Barcelona president Joan Laporta has come to the defense of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal following backlash over his 18th birthday party.

The young star’s celebration turned heads—not for the glitz or guest list, but for a complaint filed by the Association of People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism.

The group raised concerns about the inclusion of people with dwarfism in the entertainment lineup. But Laporta isn’t having any of it.

“It was a private party,” Laporta said in an interview with Mundo Deportivo. “Lamine just turned 18, and whatever he does now will always attract attention. Honestly, I only regret not being invited—it looked like a spectacular party!”

Laporta described the event as stylish, joyful, and full of young energy, with influencers, content creators, singers, and TikTok stars among the guests.

“They’re 18-year-olds—they chose something fun and current. He was with friends and people from today’s entertainment world. In that sense, I’m happy for him,” Laporta added. “The next day, he was back at training and worked harder than anyone. That’s what really matters.”

Despite returning to training like a true professional, criticism has followed the teenager, with calls for the Spanish government to look into the party for possible violations of disability rights.

Still, Laporta remains supportive, saying Yamal did nothing wrong and has every right to enjoy this milestone.

“He deserves to celebrate. I want to congratulate him for his birthday and for how well he’s handling the spotlight.”