Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa emphasized on Friday that Spain is a country known for its tolerance and not racism, despite instances of Islamophobic chanting during a recent national team match. At Spain’s friendly against Egypt on Tuesday, a section of the crowd at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium in Cornella chanted “whoever doesn’t jump is Muslim.”
Lamine Yamal, a Muslim player for Spain and Barcelona, condemned the chanting as “ignorant and racist.” Arbeloa defended Spain’s stance while stressing the need to eliminate racist behaviors.
Arbeloa expressed, “I believe Spain is not a racist nation; otherwise, we would encounter issues every weekend at various stadiums. We must strive to eradicate any form of racism at stadiums and within society. Spain must continue its fight against such attitudes. However, it’s important not to generalize based on these incidents.”
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has faced racial abuse at multiple stadiums in Spain in recent years. Notably, in January 2023, Atletico Madrid fans hung an effigy of Vinicius near Real Madrid’s training ground. Subsequently, Vinicius confronted abusive fans at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium, garnering global support in his anti-racism campaign.
In a landmark ruling in 2025, five Real Valladolid fans who racially abused Vinicius in a 2022 match were convicted of a hate crime, marking a significant legal development in Spain concerning insults in football stadiums.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick commended teenager Yamal for denouncing the individuals responsible for the abuse, stating, “We advocate for inclusivity. It’s disheartening that a minority fails to grasp this concept. Everyone deserves respect irrespective of their background. It’s time to change these outdated perspectives.”
Atletico coach Diego Simeone attributed the issue to a broader lack of respect globally, transcending national boundaries. He remarked, “The erosion of respect is a societal issue on a global scale, not confined to specific countries. Respect for authority figures like parents, teachers, law enforcement, sports officials has diminished over time.”
Catalonia’s regional police force initiated an investigation into the chants, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemning the incident as “unacceptable.” Sanchez asserted, “We cannot allow an uncivilized minority to tarnish the image of Spain, a diverse and tolerant nation.”