Lamine Yamal angered by 'ignorant and racist' chants at Spain-Egypt friendly

Lamine Yamal angered by 'ignorant and racist' chants at Spain-Egypt friendly Spain's manager also condemned the behaviour of some fans, calling them "not representative of football" and "intolerable". Wednesday 1 April 2026 16:02, UK Why you can trust Sky News Lamine Yamal has criticised "racist and ignorant" chants heard during Spain's friendly against Egypt that have led to a police investigation. The anti-Muslim chants at the RCDE Stadium, on the outskirts of Barcelona, prompted officials to display an anti-discrimination message on a screen to people inside the ground. The messages reminded supporters that taking part in acts of racism and xenophobia was a crime, but the chants continued. Lamine Yamal, who started for Spain, called the chants "ignorant and racist". On Instagram, the player wrote: "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." The 18-year-old Barcelona star said he understood "not all fans are like that", but in a message to those who chant "these things" he added: "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." Spain's manager Luis de la Fuente strongly condemned the behaviour of some fans. He said: "They are not representative of football. They take advantage of football, as they do in other areas of life. "We need to isolate these people from society. "I feel total and absolute repulsion towards any xenophobic or racist attitudes. They are intolerable." The Egyptian FA said in a statement: "We firmly reject and condemn such behavior, including the lack of respect shown toward the national anthem. These actions are entirely unacceptable in football stadiums and represent a negative phenomenon that must be collectively addressed and eradicated." It added: "What happened is completely unacceptable, and FIFA remains committed t...