We must continue to fight with the same force so that these actions are not repeated, either in stadiums or in society. In turn, Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone pointed to a 'social' problem on a global level, and not just 'in Spain, Argentina, or Brazil'. Simeone said: 'For years, the respect we must have for parents, teachers, police, and even the coach has been lost.' The friendly match between Spain and Egypt (0-0) in Barcelona on Tuesday witnessed racist chants ('He who doesn't jump is a Muslim!'). But our position remains the same: we must eradicate all forms of racist behavior in stadiums and in society.' He added: 'We are a very tolerant country, and we must not generalize when such incidents occur.' Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa confirmed on Friday that 'Spain is not a racist country,' while at the same time calling against 'generalizing' after this new incident in a stadium, when asked about the anti-Islamic chants that accompanied the international friendly match between Spain and Egypt on Tuesday in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Arbeloa said at a press conference: 'Spain is not a racist country, otherwise we would see this type of incident every week in all stadiums.' This incident sparked a wave of condemnation in the country and prompted the Catalan police to open an investigation. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned on Wednesday the 'minority' of fans who 'tarnished' Spain's image in an 'unacceptable' incident, and condemned the young star Lamine Yamal, a Muslim, for what he described as an 'unacceptable lack of respect.' This stance was praised by Barcelona's German coach Hansi Flick, who reiterated that 'there is no place for racism, neither in football nor in life,' calling for 'integration and inclusion.' Despite the efforts of the authorities and the issuance of several judicial condemnations, this case is a new example of the difficulties faced by Spanish football in eradicating racism in its stadiums, both in the stands and on the pitches, where such incidents have multiplied in recent months. Brazilian Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior, who has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in world football, has been the target of such insults more than anyone since arriving in Madrid in 2018, but only a part of these incidents have led to sanctions.
