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Police Probe Islamophobic Chants at SpainEgypt Friendly After Yamal Condemns Abuse

Accountability now rests on a police investigation followed by any FIFA disciplinary review.

Overview

  • Sections of the crowd at Tuesday’s SpainEgypt friendly in Barcelona jeered Egypt’s anthem and chanted “If you’re not jumping, you’re a Muslim,” with stadium screens and the PA urging fans to stop.
  • Catalonia’s Mossos d’Esquadra opened an investigation on Wednesday into what they called Islamophobic and xenophobic chants, seeking to identify those responsible.
  • Lamine Yamal, a Muslim Spain winger, said on Instagram the chants were disrespectful and intolerable, and Catalonia’s sports minister said the teenager was affected and would receive support.
  • Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente, the RFEF and Espanyol condemned the abuse, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the incident unacceptable and unrepresentative of a tolerant Spain.
  • FIFA will review referee, match inspector, security and video reports before deciding on any action, in a case that revives concerns over racism in Spanish football after repeated incidents involving players such as Vinícius Júnior and a 2025 hate‑crime conviction.