Barcelona (© 2026 Afriquinfos)- The friendly match on Tuesday March 31, between Spain, number in the FIFA Ranking at that time, and Egypt, ended in a draw (0-0). This confrontation could have stopped at the sporting aspect and at what can be considered as an achievement for the Egyptians, had it not been for the racist and Islamophobic insults coming from the stands. Lamine Yamal, star of La Roja, originally from Morocco and of Muslim faith, strongly condemned these incidents.
Racist and Islamophobic chants were sung during the match between Spain and Egypt (0-0) last Tuesday in Barcelona. “He who does not jump is Muslim!”) were chanted by a group of Spanish supporters, in the 10th and 22nd minutes.
Condemnations of these incidents poured in immediately after the meeting. The Spanish Football Federation says it “condemns all acts of violence in stadiums” and “associates itself with the message of football against racism”. In a post-match press conference, Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente, for his part, said he felt “total and absolute disgust” in the face of any xenophobic, racist or disrespectful attitude”, denouncing chants ” intolerable crimes” and calling for “identification” and punishment of their perpetrators.
The star of La Roja and FC Barcelona, Lamine Yamal Nasraoui also reacted in a message on social networks: “I am Muslim, alhamdulillah, wrote the FC Barcelona player.[…] I know that the shouting was aimed at the opposing team and not me, but being a Muslim myself, it remains a lack of respect and something intolerable. I understand that not all fans are like that, but to those who sing this kind of thing: using religion to make fun makes you ignorant and racist people.
In the process, the Catalan police announced on Wednesday the opening of an investigation into “the Islamophobic and xenophobic chants” sung the day before during the friendly match. “We are investigating yesterday’s Islamophobic and xenophobic chants at the RCDE Stadium during the Spain-Egypt friendly match.”she indicated on X.
S.B.
