Barcelona’s young superstar Lamine Yamal once again endured racist comments and insults from opposing fans during their LaLiga victory against Atletico Madrid.
The incident occurred as the Spanish international prepared to take a corner kick at the Metropolitano stadium. Video footage captured Atletico supporters directing derogatory remarks at Yamal, including «You’re so ugly» and «B*stard.» Among the chants, fans were heard shouting, «Go to Morocco,» a clear reference to Yamal’s Moroccan heritage (his father is Moroccan, and his mother is from Equatorial Guinea).
Renewed Outcry Following Previous Incidents
This latest act of racism adds further gravity to recent events. Just last week, a friendly match between Spain and Egypt at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium was marred by controversy. Spanish fans booed the opposing national anthem and chanted offensive slogans during the first half. Media reports indicated supporters were singing: «Bote, bote, bote musulman el que no bote» (meaning: «Jump, jump, jump, whoever doesn’t jump is a Muslim»).
A horrified Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim, later posted on Instagram under a black-and-white picture of himself entering the pitch: «As a Muslim, I find this disrespectful and intolerable. I understand that not all fans are like this, but those who sing such things: making a religion an object of mockery on the pitch makes you look like ignorant and racist people.» He emphasized that football should be about «having fun and cheering for your team, not disrespecting people because of their origin or belief.»
Calls for Reflection and Solidarity
Following these occurrences, former LaLiga player Mohamed Sissoko (41) even advised Yamal to reconsider his future with the Spanish national team. «He could have chosen Morocco, but he chose Spain. Nevertheless, he had to endure what happened to him in that game. That is neither fair nor logical. It was a disgrace. If I were in Lamine’s shoes, I would honestly think twice about playing for Spain again.»
The abuse also became a topic of discussion ahead of the Champions League match between Barcelona’s rival Real Madrid and FC Bayern. Real’s Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, who has frequently been a victim of racism himself, was asked about Yamal’s situation.
Vinicius stated: «It’s a complex issue, and it’s constantly happening. It’s important that Lamine has spoken out about it; that can help others. I hope Lamine continues this fight as well. We have money, but there are many Black people who are not as well off as us.» He further added: «I’m not saying Spain, Germany, or Portugal are racist countries, but there are racists in every country, and if we fight together, hopefully other players and people in general will no longer have to suffer these things.»
Despite Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over Atletico on Saturday, during which Yamal played the full 90 minutes, he appeared visibly upset as he left the Metropolitano stadium. While coach Hansi Flick initially attributed Yamal’s frustration to not having registered a scorer point, the widespread racist abuse context undeniably contributed to his distress.