Spanish fans chanted a derogatory song aimed towards Muslims during a friendly match against Egypt at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, according to multiple reports. Egypt is a majority-Muslim nation, according to reports. Fans sang the chant again shortly after the second half got underway, according to reports. The exact wording and source of the social media footage showing the chant have not been confirmed, and it remains unclear how many fans were involved in the chanting and what proportion of the crowd they represented.
A message was sent out on the PA system asking fans not to use racist, homophobic, or xenophobic chants, according to reports. A message on the big screen displayed a reminder that legislation to prevent violence in sport forbids and punishes participation in violent, xenophobic, homophobic or racist acts, as reported. The announcement was met with fierce whistles from fans, according to reports. According to Daily Express - Sport, Luis de la Fuente, the coach of the Spanish national team, described the decision to display the message and make the announcement as the right one, saying those chanting are a disgrace and that the majority inside the stadium whistled them.
I am repulsed by and absolutely reject any form of xenophobia or racism - it's completely intolerable.
The decision to play the match in Barcelona was controversial due to it being a heavily pro-Catalan and anti-Spanish region, according to reports. Anti-independence fans in the crowd displayed a sea of Spanish flags during the national anthem, according to reports. Loud jeers and boos were heard during the national anthem of Egypt, according to reports. What specific actions, if any, will be taken against the fans who chanted the derogatory song is unknown, and it is unclear whether any arrests or sanctions were made by authorities following the incident.
The match between Spain and Egypt finished in a goalless draw, according to reports. Spain is the Euro 2024 champion and is set to start the World Cup as favourites, according to reports. Spain was putting the final touches to their preparation for the tournament, according to reports. Egypt is a fellow World Cup qualifier, according to reports.
I don't know exactly what the protocol is, but I think it was the right decision to display the message on the scoreboard and make the announcement. Those [chanting] are a disgrace -- and the majority [inside the stadium] whistled them. There's nothing else to say.
Luis de la Fuente is the coach of the Spanish national team, according to reports. According to Daily Express - Sport, Luis de la Fuente described being repulsed by and absolutely rejecting any form of xenophobia or racism, calling it completely intolerable. According to Daily Express - Sport, he also described those chanting as not representative of football, saying they take advantage of football as they do in other areas of life and need to be removed from society, the further away the better. The official protocol for handling racist or xenophobic chants at football matches in Spain has not been detailed publicly.
They are not representative of football. They take advantage of football, as they do in other areas of life. They need to be removed from society -- the further away, the better.