Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has denounced anti-Muslim chants heard during Spain's friendly match against Egypt, calling the behavior "ignorant and racist" in a social media statement that highlighted growing concerns about discrimination in Spanish football.
The 18-year-old Spanish international, who is Muslim, took to Instagram to address chants of "Who doesn't jump is Muslim" that echoed through the RCDE Stadium during Tuesday's 0-0 draw. Stadium officials displayed anti-discrimination messages on screens during the match, reminding fans that racist behavior constituted a crime, but the chants persisted.
I know it was directed at the opposing team and wasn't personal against me, but as a Muslim, it's still disrespectful and intolerable.
Lamine Yamal — Instagram
The incident at Espanyol's home ground prompted swift condemnation from Spanish football authorities and government officials. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente expressed "total and absolute repulsion" toward the xenophobic attitudes, while the Spanish Football Federation condemned any acts of violence inside stadiums.
Catalonia's regional police force opened an investigation into what they described as "anti-Islamic and xenophobic chants." The Egyptian Football Association also issued a statement firmly rejecting the behavior and calling for collective action to eradicate such incidents from football stadiums.
Sky News frames the incident as part of broader racism concerns in Spanish football, emphasizing official condemnation. The outlet highlights the political dimension through the justice minister's criticism of far-right influence.