The prime minister rebuked an “uncivil minority” for targeting visiting fans and players, while a top Spain footballer called the incident “ignorant and racist.”
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday condemned Spanish football fans for directing chants demeaning Muslims at Egypt’s national team and their supporters.
The incident took place during a friendly international match in Cornellà near Barcelona on Tuesday night, when some fans were heard chanting: “If you don’t jump, you’re a Muslim.” The jeers were directed at players and supporters from Egypt, a majority-Muslim country.
“Yesterday’s incident in Cornellà is unacceptable and must not happen again,” Sánchez wrote on X. “We cannot allow an uncivil minority to tarnish the reality of Spain, a plural and tolerant country — including our national team and its fans.”
He added: “My full support goes to the athletes who suffered it, and my applause to those who, through their respect, help make us a better country.”
Spanish police on Wednesday launched an investigation into the chants.
Lamine Yamal, one of Spain’s star players who is also a Muslim, likewise condemned the incident in a post on Instagram. “I know it was aimed at the opposing team and wasn’t something personal against me, but as a Muslim it is still disrespectful and unacceptable,” he wrote. “Using a religion as a joke in a stadium makes you look ignorant and racist.”
Spain’s head coach, Luis De La Fuente, also denounced the chanting in an interview after the game, which finished 0-0.
Both Spain and Egypt will compete at this year’s men’s World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Spain will host the 2030 iteration of the tournament along with Portugal and another majority-Muslim country, Morocco.