Protesters block the road in an attempt to disrupt the twenty-first stage of the Spanish cycling race La Vuelta, from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernndez)2025-09-15T09:13:13Z MADRID (AP) Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Snchez on Monday called for Israel to be banned from sports events after pro-Palestinian activists disrupted the final stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race in chaotic scenes in Madrid.Speaking to members of his Socialist Party, Snchez said Israel, just like Russia, should be boycotted from international sports events because of its military campaign in Gaza.Until the barbarity ends, neither Russia nor Israel should be in any international competition, Snchez said. The sports organizations should consider whether its ethical for Israel to keep participating in international competitions. Why expel Russia after the invasion of Ukraine and not expel Israel after the invasion of Gaza?Snchez spoke a day after Sundays final stage had to be cut short after protesters threw barriers onto the road and clashed with police near the finish line in the Spanish capital.___AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling TALES AZZONI Azzoni is a sports reporter based in Madrid in charge of Spain and Portugal for The Associated Press. He has covered multiple World Cups and Olympic Games for the AP, as well as other major sporting events worldwide. twitter mailto