Spain’s Lamine Yamal. EPA/Kai Forsterling
Thursday Apr 02, 2026. 11:00
FC Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal has strongly condemned racist and Islamophobic abuse directed at the Egyptian team during Spain’s friendly against them in Barcelona on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old Spanish winger, a practicing Muslim, called the chants “disrespectful and intolerable” on Instagram, criticising fans who use religion as a taunt following the 0-0 draw.
Spanish police are investigating the incident that happened at the RCDE Stadium (also known as Estadi Cornellà-El Prat), in Barcelona (specifically Cornellà de Llobregat, home of RCD Espanyol).
“I know it [the chant] was directed at the opposing team and wasn’t personal against me, but as a Muslim, it’s still disrespectful and intolerable,” Yamal said.
“I understand that not all fans are like that, but to those who chant these things: using a religion as a taunt on the field makes you ignorant and racist.
“Football is for enjoying and cheering, not for disrespecting people for who they are or what they believe.”
Yamal is of Moroccan descent through his father (from Larache, Morocco) and Equatorial Guinean descent through his mother (born in Bata, Equatorial Guinea), while being born and raised in Spain.