Catalonia’s regional police force, Mossos d’Esquadra, are investigating “Islamophobic and xenophobic” chants heard during Spain’s friendly against Egypt in Barcelona on Tuesday. The Spain coach, Luis de la Fuente condemned “xenophobic or racist attitudes” after fans repeatedly made anti-Muslim chants and on Wednesday Spain’s justice minister, Félix Bolaños, also spoke out against what happened.
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Egypt’s national anthem was jeered before the 0-0 draw in a pre-World Cup friendly and authorities at the RCDE Stadium appealed to fans more than once over the PA system to refrain from making offensive comments. An anti-discrimination message was displayed on screen inside the stadium.
Bolaños posted on X: “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.”
De la Fuente said: “I feel total and absolute repulsion towards any xenophobic or racist attitudes. They are intolerable.”
Egypt is a majority-Muslim country and the teenage Spain and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is Muslim. Spain were hosting Egypt in a game that had been expected to be played in Qatar before the region was affected by the Iran war. Spain’s World Cup opponents include Saudi Arabia.
