'Ignorant and racist people': Spain's Yamal on anti-Muslim chants

Spain star Lamine Yamal has joined the condemnation anti-Muslim chants by fans during the team's 0-0 draw with Egypt in a friendly international which are now subject of a police investigation.

“I am a Muslim. Yesterday at the stadium the chant ‘the one who doesn’t jump is a Muslim’ was heard," Barcelona forward Yamal said on Wednesday on Instagram.

“I know I was playing for the rival team and it wasn’t something personal against me, but as a Muslim person it doesn’t stop being disrespectful and something intolerable.

“I understand not all fans are like this, but to those who sing these things, using a religion as a mockery on the field makes you ignorant and racist people.

“Football is to be enjoyed and encouraged, not to disregard people for who they are or what they believe in. With that being said, thank you to the people who came to cheer us on, see you at the World Cup.”

Police in the Catalunya region said on Wednesday the have launched an investigation in order to identify the offenders.

Some fans booed when the Egypt anthem was played before kick-off and anti-Muslim and racist chants and slogans started around halfway through the first half, mainly in one area of the stadium. The abuse was also directed at Spanish left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzán said post-match that we "condemn such situations, which occur sporadically and in isolated cases.”

Louzán said the association’s condemnation had also been displayed on the stadium’s video screens during the match.

“Please be reminded that legislation on the prevention of violence in sport prohibits and penalises active participation in violent, xenophobic, homophobic or racist acts,” the message on the screen read.

The RFEF also posted on X that it "joins the message of our football against racism and condemns any act of violence in the stadiums.”

Spain coach Luis De la Fuente spoke of "total and absolute disgust" as he said "any form of xenophobia, racism and disrespect” was unacceptable.

He called for offenders to be identified and banned but also said that the vast majority of spectators in the Barcelona stadium had condemned the incidents and booed the troublemakers.

“Football is not violent – violent people use it as a stage,” De la Fuente said.

The incidents were also criticised in the media, with sports paper As speaking of "worldwide disgrace" on its front page on Wednesday.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said he didn't notice the incidents because he was concentrating on the match.