Elham Asaad Buaras
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has condemned Islamophobic chanting by sections of Spanish supporters during a pre-World Cup friendly against Egypt, describing the incident as “unacceptable” and warning against allowing “an uncivil minority” to tarnish the country’s reputation.
The chants, which targeted Egypt’s players and supporters during the March 31 match in Cornellà near Barcelona, included “Musulmán el que no bote”, roughly translated as “If you don’t jump, you’re a Muslim.”
Writing on X, Sánchez branded the incident, “unacceptable and must not happen again. We cannot allow an uncivil minority to tarnish the reality of Spain, a plural and tolerant country, including our national team and its fans.”
He added, “My full support goes to the athletes who suffered it, and my applause to those who, through their respect, help make us a better country.”
Spain international Lamine Yamal, one of the few Muslim players in the squad, also spoke out forcefully after the match. The 18-year-old winger said the chants, while not personally directed at him, were deeply offensive.
“I know it was aimed at the opposing team and wasn’t something personal against me, but as a Muslim it is still disrespectful and unacceptable,” he wrote. “Using a religion as a joke in a stadium makes you look ignorant and racist.”
Yamal, who was born in Spain to a Moroccan father and is widely regarded as one of Europe’s brightest young talents, had recently observed Ramadan. His presence on the pitch underscored how the abuse directly affected players within Spain’s own squad, not just the visiting Egyptian team.
Authorities have since moved to investigate the incident. The Mossos d’Esquadra confirmed they are examining the chants at the RCDE Stadium, describing them as “Islamophobic and xenophobic.” The regional police force is working with the Hate and Discrimination Prosecutor’s Office to determine whether the behaviour constitutes a hate crime under Spanish law.
FIFA has also opened disciplinary proceedings against the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), reviewing video evidence, referee and match inspector reports, and security documentation. Potential sanctions include fines and stadium closures.
Officials noted that even if criminal charges are not pursued, administrative sanctions could still be applied under legislation addressing violence and intolerance in sport.
The chanting drew widespread condemnation across Spanish football and politics. Head coach Luis de la Fuente said, “I am repulsed by and absolutely reject any form of xenophobia or racism, it’s completely intolerable. Those [chanting] are a disgrace, and the majority [inside the stadium] whistled them. There’s nothing else to say. They are not representative of football. They take advantage of football, as they do in other areas of life. They need to be removed from society, the further away, the better.”
Rafael Louzan, President of the RFEF, described the incidents as isolated but reiterated a zero-tolerance stance, “What we’ve done is condemn these kinds of attitudes and to say they must not be repeated.”
Justice Minister Félix Bolaños said, “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.”
Regional leaders also responded. Catalonia’s sports minister Berni Álvarez called the behaviour “inacceptable” and urged stronger protections to ensure sport remains inclusive. Spain’s government delegate in Catalonia Carlos Prieto added that “racism has no place anywhere,” confirming that official protocols had been activated.
The match itself unfolded in a tense atmosphere. Egypt’s national anthem was jeered before kick-off, and anti-Muslim chants resurfaced repeatedly during the first half. Stadium officials issued multiple warnings over the public address system, while anti-discrimination messages were displayed on screens at half-time and again early in the second half. Some supporters responded with whistles in defiance.
Feature photo: Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez and international star Lamine Yamal condemn Islamophobic chants during Spain’s World Cup warm-up against Egypt, as police and FIFA launch investigations.(Credit: Flickr/CC)
