Vinicius backs Lamine Yamal as Spain faces racist chants in Barcelona friendly
1 April 2026
Racism shadows a Spain–Egypt friendly
The international friendly between Spain and Egypt at RCDE Stadium in Barcelona was clouded by racist chants directed at Muslims, drawing swift condemnation from football circles.
Lamine Yamal, a Barcelona standout and Spain international, spoke out in a post, saying I am Muslim, thank God. On the pitch yesterday, chants were heard with the line Whoever does not jump is a Muslim. He stressed that although the taunt targeted the opposing team, as a Muslim he finds it disrespectful and unacceptable.
Yamal added that not all fans are like that, but anyone who uses religion as a joke comes across as ignorant and racist. Football should be about enjoyment and supporting your team, not insulting people for their identity or beliefs.
Vinicius Jr and others condemn the incident
Vinícius Júnior, the Real Madrid forward who has faced racism before, showed support for Yamal by liking his teammate’s post. The Brazilian star is no stranger to abuse on the field and publicly backed the message.
Vinícius, 25, has long understood what it means to endure discrimination in football, and he did not hesitate to back Yamal’s stance. French icon Paul Pogba and several other football figures joined in opposing the use of religion as a tool of insult in the stands.
El Mundo Deportivo noted that Yamal was not alone in his stance; Vinícius Jr also expressed support by liking the post, highlighting the broader fight against discrimination in football. The piece notes that Vinícius knows the pain of racist incidents and applauded Yamal’s call for respect, not personal attacks.
Further coverage by Mundo Deportivo and other outlets stressed that football must be a space for enjoyment and fair play, not for dissing people because of identity or belief. The article links to related pieces about Barca and Atletico Madrid ahead of big matches.
Punchlines to close with a light touch: Punchline 1: If racism in football is a sniper, it never hits the target and only wounds the stadium morale. Punchline 2: If your insults miss the mark, try scoring a goal instead of telling a joke about someone’s faith.
