Spanish Police Investigate Racist Chants at Spain-Egypt Friendly

Spanish football was rocked this week after police confirmed they have opened an investigation into Islamophobic and xenophobic chants heard during the Spain versus Egypt friendly in Barcelona. The match, held at RCDE Stadium on Tuesday, ended 0-0 but was overshadowed by repeated anti-Muslim abuse from sections of the 35,000-strong crowd.

Police deemed the incident serious enough to warrant a formal inquiry. Catalonia’s regional police force, Mossos d’Esquadra, announced on X that they are “investigating yesterday’s Islamophobic and xenophobic chants at RCDE Stadium during the Spain-Egypt friendly match.” The hostility was clear even before kick-off, as Egypt’s national anthem was loudly jeered by some fans.

Stadium authorities responded quickly, making multiple appeals over the public announcement system for supporters to refrain from offensive comments. An anti-discrimination message was also displayed on screens inside the ground in an effort to curb the abuse. The match had been relocated to Barcelona from Qatar due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, placing it in a highly visible prelude to this summer’s world cup preparations.

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente did not hold back in his condemnation after the final whistle. “I feel total and absolute repulsion towards any xenophobic or racist attitudes,” he told reporters, calling such behavior “intolerable.” De la Fuente added, “Violent people use football to carve out a space for themselves. They must be removed from society, identified, and kept as far away as possible.”

The Spanish football federation also publicly denounced the actions of some supporters. This strong reaction comes amid concerns over repeated racism scandals in Spanish football, including high-profile cases involving Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

Government officials echoed these sentiments. Justice Minister Félix Bolaños spoke out against the incident 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.” Bolaños emphasized the government’s ongoing commitment to building a tolerant and respectful country.

The abuse directed at Egypt, an overwhelmingly Muslim nation, has particular resonance given the presence of Muslim players on both sides. Lamine Yamal, Spain’s 16-year-old Barcelona starlet, is himself Muslim and has been hailed as a symbol of modern Spanish multiculturalism.

Tuesday’s fixture was intended as a final test for both teams ahead of their respective World Cup campaigns. Spain will face Saudi Arabia among their group-stage opponents this summer, a context that only heightens scrutiny on how racism and Islamophobia are policed both in stadiums and across Spanish society.

As investigations continue, attention remains fixed on identifying those responsible for Tuesday night’s chants.

The match had already been marked by tension after its late switch from Qatar due to regional conflict, but authorities now face renewed pressure to tackle hate speech at major sporting events.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente summed up official sentiment bluntly: “What we’ve done is condemn these kinds of attitudes and to say they must not be repeated.”