Javi Poves, the president of Spanish fourth-division side Club Deportivo Colonia Moscardo, has stepped down from his position following the emergence of footage showing him pursuing Muslim players whilst brandishing a joint of pork.
The incident was allegedly part of a promotional campaign for Iberian ham, though the video has sparked widespread criticism.
Poves, who previously played professional football before moving into club administration, has developed a reputation as one of Spanish football’s most controversial figures over recent years.
The footage has gained significant traction across social media platforms, drawing attention to the fourth-tier club and its outgoing president.
The video emerged and spread rapidly in the aftermath of Spain’s World Cup warm-up match against Egypt, a fixture that was overshadowed by supporters directing anti-Muslim chants from the stands.
Against this backdrop, the clip of Poves’s actions attracted heightened scrutiny and condemnation online.
Javi Poves is a colourful character within the world of Spanish football
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The former footballer acknowledged his involvement in the video through a statement released on CDC Moscardo’s official X account.
In the clip, Poves took responsibility for what had occurred and offered an apology to those who felt offended by his behaviour, whilst maintaining that the stunt had been intended as harmless entertainment rather than a deliberate provocation.
¿Una camiseta y un jamón no eran suficientes? 😏
Pues espera a ver la cesta que se rifa hoy…
¡Consigue tu papeleta en el partido!
Hoy alguien se va a casa MUY feliz 😄#elbarrioelegido❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/Ch2y5lJzcY
— CDC Moscardó (@CDCMOSCARDO_com) April 11, 2026
Poves defended his actions whilst simultaneously expressing regret, stating: “It was for entertainment!
“We took the video down because it didn’t please everyone, and I think some people also want to use it to attack Moscardo.”
He described the situation as “shameful,” arguing that “something done with kindness, a joke, not serious, is being associated with religion, with disrespect, with low morality.”
Addressing his critics directly, he added: “To everyone who was offended, I am sorry, but I think you are heading down the wrong path.”
Javi Poves once posed as Jesus for a stunt
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The outgoing president also revealed his future plans, announcing he would train as a shepherd, tending to sheep and growing vegetables including tomatoes and aubergines.
Poves has a lengthy track record of courting controversy within Spanish football. In 2019, whilst serving as president of Móstoles Balompié, he rebranded the club as Flat Earth FC to promote the scientifically debunked theory about the planet’s shape.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, both Poves and the club published content on social media opposing vaccination programmes and the wearing of face masks.
His penchant for unusual publicity continued last summer when CDC Moscardo shared footage of their president kneeling in a goalmouth dressed in white robes, apparently engaged in prayer, accompanied by the caption: “Follow the light… subscribe!”
