Real Madrid Coach Denies Teams Racism Amid Islamophobic Chant Incident

Spanish Footballer Lamine Yamal Condemns Islamophobic Chants at Egypt Match

A crowd disturbance occurred during a recent friendly match between Spain and Egypt at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium in Cornella. The incident involved chants directed towards a Muslim player, Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal. According to eyewitnesses, sections of the crowd sang “Whoever doesn’t jump is Muslim” during the match.

Yamal, who is Muslim, expressed his disappointment with the chants, stating that they were “ignorant and racist”. The incident has sparked debate about racism in Spanish football.

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa defended Spain as a tolerant country, saying that if it was racist, there would be problems every weekend at stadiums. He emphasized the need to eradicate racist attitudes and maintain social tolerance.

In recent years, several high-profile incidents of racial abuse have occurred in Spanish football. Real Madrid striker Vinicius Jr has faced abuse from fans on multiple occasions. In 2025, five Real Valladolid fans were found guilty of committing a hate crime for racially abusing Vinicius during a match in 2022.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised Yamal’s statement, saying that the team stands for inclusion and respect for all individuals regardless of their background or identity. Atletico coach Diego Simeone attributed the problem to a lack of respect worldwide, stating that it is a social issue that requires attention.

Spanish authorities are investigating the incident, with Catalonia’s regional police taking action. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the incident as “unacceptable” and emphasized Spain’s commitment to being a diverse and tolerant country.

Source: Al Jazeera