Spanish police launched an investigation on Wednesday into Islamophobic and xenophobic chants during Tuesday's friendly against Egypt which also drew criticism from players, football officials and the Spanish government. Football is for enjoying and supporting, not for disrespecting people for who they are or what they believe," he wrote. The incident highlighted concerns about racism in Spanish soccer, a recurring issue notably involving Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinícius Jr., who has been targeted in high-profile cases. The stadium displayed messages on overhead screens, reminding fans that taking part in acts of racism and xenophobia was a crime, yet the chants continued. The Spanish Football Federation said in a message on social media that it "stands against racism in football and condemns any act of violence inside stadiums".

Source: The Telegraph April 01, 2026 14:19 UTC