Spain’s Prime Minister speaks out on Islamophobic storm after Lamine Yamal fury

After Lamine Yamal was left furious when he heard Islamophobic chants from the Spanish supporters, Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has spoken out

The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, has condemned the Islamophobic songs which were heard during his country’s recent friendly against Egypt. The European champions were recently held to a 0-0 draw by the Egyptians.

However, the match was overshadowed by chants heard from the stands of the RCDE Stadium on Wednesday. Many home supporters were heard chanting, “Whoever doesn’t jump is a Muslim,” which attracted the condemnation of Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, who is a Muslim himself.

After the match, the youngster did not take part in the lap of honour, despite Spain not playing another friendly in the country between now and the 2026 World Cup. Not long after Yamal took his stand, Prime Minister Sanchez lent his support to the teenager.

He took to X and said: “Yesterday’s episode in Cornella is unacceptable and must not be repeated. We cannot allow a disrespectful minority to tarnish the reality of Spain, a plural and tolerant country.

“The national football team and its fans, as well. My full support to the athletes who suffered it, and my applause to those who, with their respect, help us to be a better country.”

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Yamal expressed his anger and hurt in a statement he uploaded on Instagram. He said: “I am a Muslim. Yesterday at the stadium the chant ‘the one who doesn’t jump is a Muslim’ was heard.

“I know I was playing for the rival team and it wasn’t something personal against me, but as a Muslim person it doesn’t stop being disrespectful and something intolerable.

“I understand not all fans are like this, but to those who sing these things, using a religion as a mockery on the field makes you ignorant and racist people.

“Football is to be enjoyed and encouraged, not to disrespect people for who they are or what they believe in. With that being said, thank you to the people who came to cheer us on, see you at the World Cup.”

There were rumours claiming a member of the Egyptian delegation threatened to leave the game when they heard the chants, but this was rejected by the country’s ambassador Ehab Ahmed Badawy. He said: “What happened was unacceptable, but those who chanted against Muslims were a minority and do not represent the majority of Spanish society nor do they represent the feelings of the Spanish government.

“I have been in contact with the Spanish government, and these contacts have confirmed the friendship that exists between Spain and Egypt. The condemnation from the Ministers of Education and Justice, as well as the RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation), confirms this. These were the actions of a minority.”

Morocco, Spain and Portugal have been chosen as the two hosts of the 2030 World Cup. Reports from the latter have claimed there is a worry the ugliness of those chants against Egypt may sway FIFA into awarding the World Cup final to Morocco.

Spanish police are understood to be investigating the reports of Islamophobia and xenophobia from the match. The game was originally going to be played in Qatar, but the conflict in the Middle East forced the match to be played in Spain instead.

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