Spain fans slammed after anti-muslim chant vs Egypt as Lamine Yamal’s reaction emerges
Spain’s football federation has condemned discriminatory chanting by supporters during a friendly against Egypt, after an incident in Barcelona prompted strong reactions from officials, players and observers.
The match, which ended 0-0 at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium, has renewed scrutiny on fan behaviour and the enforcement of anti-discrimination measures in Spanish football.
Chants heard early in the match
Trouble emerged within the opening minutes when sections of the home crowd were heard chanting: “bote, bote, bote musulman el que no bote” — meaning “jump, jump, jump, whoever doesn’t jump is a Muslim.”
The chant, repeated by groups of supporters while jumping in unison, quickly drew concern given its discriminatory nature. The fixture, intended as a routine international friendly, was instead overshadowed by the behaviour in the stands.
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Stadium warning ignored by supporters
Officials attempted to intervene before half-time. A message displayed on stadium screens and read over the public address system reminded fans that Spanish law prohibits “violent, xenophobic, homophobic or racist acts.”
The warning, however, did little to calm the situation. Parts of the crowd responded with whistles and jeers, and the same chant was heard again shortly after the second half began, underlining the difficulty authorities often face in controlling large crowds once incidents escalate.
Federation and coach issue strong condemnation
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) moved quickly to denounce the incident. In a statement reported by The Athletic, the governing body said it condemns the chants and had instructed stadium officials to broadcast messages rejecting all forms of violence and discrimination.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente also delivered a forceful response, making clear that such behaviour has no place in the sport. “It's intolerable,” he said. “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.”
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Players express shock and frustration
Members of the Spain squad said they were surprised by what unfolded during the match. Barcelona midfielder Pedri described the dressing room as “shocked” by the chants.
“We don’t agree to any sort of racist chant,” he said. “We did not expect it. We all have to work together to stop this from happening in stadiums.”
Goalkeeper Joan Garcia echoed that sentiment, adding: “Any discriminatory message against anything … we are absolutely against it.”
Yamal incident highlights personal impact
The episode may have had a direct impact on 18-year-old forward Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim and started the match. According to SER, the Barcelona player left the stadium accompanied by security after being substituted at half-time, without acknowledging supporters.
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While no official statement was made about his departure, the reports have drawn attention to how such incidents can affect players on a personal level, particularly those directly targeted by discriminatory behaviour.
Ongoing concerns over discrimination in football
The incident is likely to intensify debate over how effectively anti-discrimination regulations are enforced in Spain and across European football. Governing bodies have introduced stricter rules and stadium protocols in recent years, but episodes like this continue to surface.
For Spain’s federation and players, the events in Barcelona serve as a reminder that tackling discriminatory behaviour remains an ongoing challenge—one that extends beyond the pitch and into the stands.
Sources: The Athletic, Spanish media reports
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