Laura Alba Schmitt, the partner of Spanish footballer Dani Olmo, was left in tears after being called a traitor by German fans for supporting Spain during Euro 2024. The social media influencer, who is German, faced a barrage of hate messages and was advised not to celebrate with the families of Spanish players due to safety concerns.
Background of the Incident
Schmitt's ordeal began when Spain faced Germany in the quarter-final of Euro 2024. Despite her German nationality, she chose to support Spain, the team of her partner. This decision sparked outrage among German football fans, who accused her of betrayal. The match itself was controversial, as Germany were denied a penalty after a handball by Marc Cucurella, further inflaming tensions.
Hate Messages and Trauma
Speaking on her podcast, Schmitt revealed the extent of the abuse she received. 'It was a traumatic time because I was so hated. I received hate messages. They told me to hand in my passport and that I was a stupid, traitorous w***e,' she recalled. The situation became so severe that she was advised not to join the celebrations with the families of other Spain players. 'The team staff were afraid that people would throw things at me. I cried all night,' she added.
Impact on Her Support for Spain
Schmitt explained that her support for Spain is deeply personal. 'If I weren’t going to wear a Spain jersey, I wouldn’t wear any jersey at all. The World Cup wouldn’t bother me. I didn’t even watch the last World Cup in Qatar,' she said. Her comments highlight the emotional toll the backlash has taken on her.
Spain's World Cup Campaign
Spain entered the 2026 World Cup as one of the favourites, having won Euro 2024. Their campaign started slowly with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, but they recovered to win their group. After defeating Austria and Portugal in the knockout stages, they set up a quarter-final clash with Belgium in Los Angeles. A victory would see them become the second team to win the World Cup as reigning European champions.
