'Tarnished' Spain probes anti-Muslim chants at Egypt friendly

Barcelona—Spanish authorities have opened an investigation into “Islamophobic and xenophobic” chants that marred Tuesday’s pre-World Cup friendly between Spain and Egypt at Espanyol’s 35,000-seat RCDE Stadium, prompting condemnation from the prime minister, national football bodies and players across the country.

Catalonia’s regional police force, the Mossos d’EsQuadra, confirmed on Wednesday that officers are reviewing footage and witness statements after a section of home supporters repeatedly sang “Whoever doesn’t jump is Muslim” during the goalless draw. Egypt’s national anthem was also jeered prior to kick-off, and stadium announcers twice appealed over the public-address system for fans to desist, while a message flashed on the videoboard at half-time urging respect. Each appeal was met with whistles from parts of the crowd.

The contest, relocated from Qatar because of the ongoing war in the Middle East, quickly turned into the latest flash-point in Spanish football’s struggle with discrimination. Forward Lamine Yamal, a Muslim and Barcelona prodigy who started for Spain, posted on Instagram that the chants showed “a lack of respect and something intolerable,” adding: “Using a religion as a form of mockery on a pitch shows you up as ignorant and racist.”

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on social media that the incident was “unacceptable,” insisting “we cannot allow an uncivil minority to tarnish the reality of Spain, a diverse and tolerant country.” Justice Minister Félix Bolaños echoed the sentiment, warning that “racist insults and chants embarrass us as a society” and arguing that “those who remain silent today will be complicit.”

The Egyptian Football Association issued a statement expressing “total condemnation of the vile racist incident,” while the Spanish Football Federation and most major political parties also denounced the behaviour. Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, dismissed the outrage, claiming opponents were “getting worked up about a chant that is not even an insult, just an expression of identity.”

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente backed the stadium’s anti-discrimination protocol after the match. “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,” 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.”

The episode is the newest entry in a lengthening dossier of racist incidents in Spanish football. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior has been repeatedly targeted since arriving in 2018, most grotesquely in January 2023 when Atlético Madrid fans hung an effigy of the Brazilian from a bridge near the club’s training ground. In 2025 five Real Valladolid supporters were convicted of a hate crime for abusing Vinicius during a 2022 match—the first such ruling inside a Spanish stadium.

Both Spain and Egypt have qualified for this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. La Roja will meet Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H, while the Pharaohs are drawn against Belgium, New Zealand and Iran in Group G.

Spanish police say the investigation is ongoing and have encouraged anyone with footage or information to come forward.