Lamine Yamal Addresses Islamophobic Chanting

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has publicly condemned a racist chant that occurred during Spain’s recent World Cup warmup match against Egypt. The incident, which took place at RCDE Stadium – the home of Espanyol – involved fans chanting “whoever doesn’t jump is a Muslim.”

Chant Directed at Egypt Players

The chant was directed towards the Egypt players, a majority of whom are Muslim, during the friendly match. While acknowledging the chant wasn’t personally aimed at him, Yamal, who is also Muslim, expressed his deep offense at the “disrespectful” behavior.

Yamal's Statement on Instagram

Yamal took to Instagram to share his feelings, stating: “I am Muslim. The chant of ‘whoever doesn’t jump is a Muslim’ was heard. I know it was directed at the rival team and wasn’t something personal against me, but as a Muslim person it doesn’t stop being disrespectful and something intolerable.”

He continued, “I understand that not all fans are like this, but to those who sing these things: using a religion as a mockery on the field leaves you ignorant and racist people. Football is to be enjoyed and encouraged, not to disrespect people for who they are or what they believe in.”

Growing Concerns Over Racism in Spanish Football

This incident adds to a growing list of racism concerns within Spanish football. Several high-profile cases have occurred in recent years, notably involving Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, who has frequently been the target of racist abuse during La Liga matches.

Support from Vinicius Junior

Vinicius Junior publicly showed his support for Yamal by liking his Instagram post. In 2025, five individuals received suspended prison sentences for racially abusing Vinicius Jr. during a 2022 La Liga match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano – a landmark case recognizing stadium racism as a hate crime.

Investigation Launched

Local police have initiated an investigation into the Islamophobic and xenophobic nature of the chanting. The chants continued despite messages displayed on the stadium screen reminding fans that such behavior constitutes a criminal offense.

Government Response

Spain’s justice minister, Félix Bolaños, condemned the incident on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Racist insults and chants shame us as a society. The far right will not leave any space free of their hatred, and those who remain silent today will be complicit. We continue working for a tolerant and respectful country for all.”