JAKARTA - Supporters were repeatedly warned to stop singing anti-Muslim songs after a series of shouts were repeated during the first half of the friendly match between Spain and Egypt which ended 0-0 on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 WIB.
A message was displayed on the screen during the first-half break - which was also read out by the stadium announcer at the RCDE Espanyol Stadium, Barcelona - ordering the supporters to stop xenophobic comments and chants.
The message was then repeated at the start of the second half, with sections of the crowd whistling in response to the request.
There was a loud whistle during the Egyptian national anthem before the match, with some fans chanting "Musulman el que no bote" - which roughly translates as "If you don't jump, you're a Muslim" - before whistling again as some of the Egyptian players knelt and kissed the ground during the first-half break.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) immediately reacted by condemning the chants.
"The RFEF is against racism in football and condemns any act of violence inside the stadium," the RFEF wrote on social media.
After the match, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente slammed the racist chants from the fans.
"I find it disgusting and absolutely reject any form of xenophobia or racism. It is absolutely intolerable."
"I don't know exactly the protocol, but I think it was the right decision to display the message on the scoreboard and make the announcement."
"The chants were disgraceful. The majority (in the stadium) booed him. There is nothing more to say."
"They do not represent football. They exploit football, as they do in other areas of life. They need to be removed from society - the further away, the better," De la Fuente said at a press conference.
Spanish police, specifically the Catalan Regional Police, Mossos d'Esquadra, have launched an investigation into the Islamophobic and xenophobic chants during the friendly match - although without providing further details - which also drew sharp criticism from RFEF and government officials.
Justice Minister Felix Bolanos denounced the song on the X social media platform, reiterating the left-wing government's stance on the rise of the extreme right wing, which is linked to the rise of racism and xenophobia.
"Insults and racist chants humiliate us as a society. The extreme right wing will not leave free space for its hatred. Those who remain silent today are complicit," he wrote.
It is the latest incident in a series of similar incidents that have tainted Spanish football in recent years, with Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior in particular repeatedly the victim of racial abuse.
Egypt is a Muslim-majority country with Islam as the official state religion. One of Spain's key players in the match, Lamine Yamal, is a Muslim.
The father of the Barcelona attacker is from Morocco and he is a Muslim, even following Ramadan last month.
"The song was aimed at the opposing team and not something personal to me. However, as a Muslim, it still represents a lack of respect and something that cannot be tolerated."
"To those who sing these things, using religion as a form of mockery on the field shows that you are stupid and racist," Lamal wrote on Instagram.
Spain's match against Egypt is a warm-up for the 2026 World Cup this summer, with both countries having qualified for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
La Roja will face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in Group H, while Egypt are scheduled to face Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran in Group G.
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