A giant display shows a anti discrimination message contained in the stadium throughout the match between Spain and Egypt, RCDE Stadium, Cornella de Llobregat, Spain – March 31, 2026. — Reuters
Spanish police stated on Wednesday that they had been investigating “Islamophobic and xenophobic” chants that had been heard throughout the Spain-Egypt worldwide soccer match in Barcelona, which the federal government stated “embarrass us as a society”.
Egypt’s nationwide anthem was additionally jeered forward of the 0-0 draw on Tuesday in a pre-World Cup pleasant, whereas authorities at La Liga facet Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium appealed to followers greater than as soon as over the general public announcement system to chorus from making offensive feedback.
It was the newest in a string of comparable incidents to overshadow Spanish soccer lately, with Actual Madrid’s Brazilian attacker Vinicius Junior particularly repeatedly racially abused.
“We are investigating yesterday’s Islamophobic and xenophobic chants at RCDE Stadium during the Spain-Egypt friendly match,” Catalonia’s regional police power, the Mossos d’Esquadra, wrote on X.
A bit of supporters had chanted: “Whoever doesn’t jump is Muslim.”
A giant display shows a anti discrimination message contained in the stadium throughout the match between Spain and Egypt, RCDE Stadium, Cornella de Llobregat, Spain – March 31, 2026. — Reuters
One among Spain’s beginning gamers throughout Tuesday’s match, ahead Lamine Yamal who performs for Espanyol’s metropolis rivals Barcelona and is Muslim, slammed the chants as “a lack of respect and something intolerable”.
“To those who sing these things: using a religion as a form of mockery on a pitch shows you up as ignorant and racist,” he wrote on Instagram.
Justice Minister Felix Bolanos condemned the incident, saying that “racist insults and chants embarrass us as a society”.
“The far right will not leave any space free from their hatred, and those who remain silent today will be complicit,” he added on X.
‘Insupportable’
The Spanish Soccer Federation additionally condemned the incident, as did most main political events.
However the chief of the far-right Vox celebration, Santiago Abascal, reposted a photograph taken on the match of followers waving crimson and yellow Spanish flags together with the message: “Proud fans, proud country”.
“When Spain plays, there’s no room for doubts or division,” the message added.
The sport in Barcelona was moved from Qatar as a result of battle within the Center East and was performed out in a hostile atmosphere from the beginning.
Spain followers contained in the stadium earlier than the match between Spain and Egypt, RCDE Stadium, Cornella de Llobregat, Spain – March 31, 2026. — Reuters
A message urging followers to cease xenophobic chants and remarks was displayed on the display at half-time and browse aloud by the stadium announcer on the floor.
The announcement was repeated early within the second half, prompting some sections of the gang of 35,000 to reply with whistles.
“I don’t know exactly what the protocol is, but I think it was the right decision to display the message on the screen and make the announcement,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente stated after the match, calling the chants “intolerable”.
“Violent people use football to carve out a space for themselves. They must be removed from society, identified, and kept as far away as possible,” the 64-year-old added.
First conviction
Spain has struggled to stamp out racism at soccer matches.
Vinicius has turn out to be a lightning rod for racist abuse since arriving within the Spanish capital in 2018 from Brazilians Flamengo.
The 25-year-old has been focused in lots of high-profile incidents, largely inside Spain.
In January 2023, Atletico Madrid followers hung an effigy of Vinicius from a bridge close to Actual Madrid’s coaching floor.
In 2025, 5 Actual Valladolid followers, who racially abused Vinicius in a 2022 match, had been discovered responsible by a court docket of committing a hate crime — the primary such ruling in Spain concerning insults at a soccer stadium.
There have been quite a few different incidents, most just lately Albacete followers singing a racist chant concerning the ahead outdoors their stadium earlier than knocking Actual Madrid out of the Copa del Rey in January.
Spain’s sport with Egypt was a warm-up fixture for this summer season’s World Cup, with each nations certified for the event in america, Canada and Mexico.
La Roja will face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H, whereas Egypt are scheduled to play towards Belgium, New Zealand and Iran in Group G.
