Spanish phenom Lamine Yamal has fiercely condemned the "Islamophobic and xenophobic" abuse hurled at the Egyptian national team during a goalless friendly between Spain and Egypt in Barcelona on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old winger, who is a practising Muslim, took to Instagram to denounce the chants echoing through the RCDE Stadium.
"I know it [the chant] was directed at the opposing team and wasn't personal against me, but as a Muslim, it's still disrespectful and intolerable," Yamal wrote. "I understand that not all fans are like that, but to those who chant these things: using a religion as a taunt on the field makes you ignorant and racist."
He added that the sport should be a space for celebration, not a platform to degrade individuals over their beliefs or identity.
Spanish authorities have already launched an investigation into the discriminatory behavior. During the match, stadium officials displayed anti-xenophobia warnings on the big screens at half-time and early in the second half, though the messages were met with defiant whistling from certain pockets of the crowd.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) quickly issued a statement on social media, emphasizing its zero-tolerance policy toward racism and stadium violence.
Spain's head coach, Luis de la Fuente, echoed Yamal's sentiments, labeling the abuse as completely unacceptable.
"Violent people use football to carve out a space for themselves," De la Fuente stated. "They must be removed from society, identified, and kept as far away as possible."
Tuesday's fixture, which saw Spain stripped of their number one global ranking following the 0-0 draw, was originally scheduled to take place in Qatar. It was relocated to the home of Espanyol due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
De la Fuente heavily rotated his squad for the match, making ten changes to the starting lineup that recently dispatched Serbia 3-0. Yamal, a cornerstone of Spain's triumphant Euro 2024 campaign, was the sole player to retain his starting role against an Egyptian side missing the injured Mohamed Salah.