On the 5th of December of 1976, the derby between Real Sociedad and Athletic Club went down in history for several reasons: Real Sociedad’s resounding win, Satrustegi’s brilliant goal conceded by Iribar, the tribute to Gaztelu… However, it will be specially remembered for a fact unrelated to sports.
The captains Inaxio Kortabarria and José Ángel Iribar led the teams onto the field displaying the banned Ikurriña (Basque flag).
The Ikurriña was carried clandestinely to the field by Real Sociedad’s player José Antonio de la Hoz Uranga.
The Basque flag was legalised on the 19th of January of 1977. After The Statute of Autonomy was established, it became the official flag of the Basque Country.
