Lamine Yamal has criticized what he described as “ignorant” and “intolerable” behavior after Islamophobic chants were heard during Spain’s international friendly against Egypt on Tuesday night.
The FC Barcelona winger appeared visibly distressed during the match, which took place at the RCDE Stadium in his home city.
The goalless draw was overshadowed by sections of the crowd chanting offensive slogans targeting Muslims.
Spain’s football federation, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, swiftly condemned the incident. Meanwhile, Catalan regional police confirmed that an investigation has been launched.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Wednesday, Yamal expressed his disappointment.
“I am a Muslim. Yesterday at the stadium the chant ‘the one who doesn’t jump is a Muslim’ was heard,” he wrote.
“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.”
He added that while not all supporters behave this way, those who mock religion in football environments show ignorance and racism.
“Football is to be enjoyed and encouraged, not to disrespect people for who they are or what they believe in,” he said.
The match fell under the jurisdiction of FIFA, which is now awaiting official reports before deciding whether disciplinary action is required.
On the pitch, the encounter ended 0-0 despite Spain holding a numerical advantage late in the game after Hamdy Fathy was sent off in the final minutes.
Both teams, already qualified for the upcoming World Cup, will now shift focus to the tournament.
Spain have been drawn in Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, while Egypt will compete in Group G with Belgium, Iran and New Zealand.
Follow the latest news on Google News
