To boo the King is protected by freedom of expression, according to judge Santiago Pedraz, who has said it was not a crime the boo against the head of Basque and Catalan state, something that was promoted during the King Cup final soccer game last May 13, in Valencia.

A hardcore section of the crowd booed Beckham every time he touched the ball and held aloft signs reading “Go Home Fraud” and “23: Repent” in reference to his shirt number. (VIDEO AVAILABLE)

Spain’s state television sacked its head of sports coverage on Thursday, saying it was a mistake not to have shown a football crowd from Catalonia and the Basque Country booing the Spanish national anthem during the country’s Cup final.