Lamine Yamal Condemns Islamophobic Chants as 'Ignorant and Racist'

Barcelona's emerging talent, Lamine Yamal, has vehemently addressed the Islamophobic chants heard during Spain's goalless draw against Egypt on Tuesday evening. The 18-year-old midfielder, who played the first half before being substituted, appeared visibly disheartened on the bench following the incidents.

The match at the RCDE Stadium was regrettably marred by three distinct instances of loud chants stating, "Whoever doesn't jump is Muslim." These offensive chants cast a significant shadow over the game, prompting Yamal to leave the field alone as his teammates completed a lap of honor. Spain's national team manager, Luis de la Fuente, publicly condemned the behavior post-match.

Lamine Yamal Responds on Instagram

The day after the incident, Lamine Yamal took to Instagram to voice his profound disappointment and frustration, unequivocally labeling the individuals responsible for the chants as both ignorant and racist.

I am a Muslim, alhamdulillah.

Yesterday at the stadium, the chant “whoever doesn’t jump is a Muslim” was heard. I know it was directed at the opposing team and wasn’t personal against me, but as a Muslim, it’s still disrespectful and intolerable.

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.

That said, thank you to everyone who came to support us, see you at the World Cup. 🤍

Espanyol Issues Statement Regarding Chants

In the wake of these events, Catalan police have initiated an official investigation into the incidents. Concurrently, Espanyol, the club whose stadium hosted the match, released a statement addressing the controversy. They condemned all forms of racist chanting, describing such actions as "abhorrent and unacceptable." However, the club also expressed its disappointment regarding what it perceived as an "unwarranted campaign" aimed at damaging the reputation of Espanyol supporters, highlighting that the attendees were Spain national team fans, representing various clubs, and not exclusively Espanyol club members.