The coach of Real Madrid, Álvaro Arbeloa, rejected claims that Spain is a racist country, following Islamophobic chants during a recent friendly match against Egypt national football team.
“Spain is not a racist country; otherwise, there would be incidents every weekend in every stadium,” Arbeloa said at a press conference. He stressed that both the club and the sport must work to “eradicate all forms of racist behavior in stadiums and society.”
The match, played in Barcelona as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup, ended in a goalless draw but was overshadowed by Islamophobic chants such as “Whoever doesn’t jump is Muslim!” directed at the Egyptian delegation. Boos were also heard during Egypt’s national anthem before kickoff.
Following the incident, Egypt’s embassy in Spain condemned the actions of a “small minority” of fans but praised the swift response of authorities. The case has since triggered a police investigation in Catalonia and sparked widespread national outrage.
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez strongly condemned the incident, calling it “unacceptable” and saying it had “tarnished” the country’s image.
Spain international Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim, also denounced the incident as an “intolerable lack of respect.”
The controversy comes amid growing pressure on Spanish football to tackle discrimination. In recent months, several racism-related incidents have emerged, many involving Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid.
