Khaberni - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized the actions of a "minority" of Spanish fans during the friendly match between Spain and Egypt's teams, describing them as having "tarnished the country's image".
The match, held in Catalonia and ended in a goalless draw, saw some fans booing during the playing of the Egyptian national anthem, in addition to chants offensive to Muslims, which the media considered a new episode in the fight against racism in stadiums.
Through the "X" platform, Sánchez described this behavior as "unacceptable," asserting: "We cannot allow an uncivilized minority to distort the reality of Spain, a diverse and tolerant country, or the national team and its fans."
In his turn, Lamine Jamal, winger for Barcelona Club, noted that he heard an offensive chant against Muslims directed at the Egyptian team, stating: "Although it was not directed at me personally, as a Muslim, this behavior is disrespectful and unacceptable."
The Spanish Football Federation also condemned all forms of violence on the pitch, affirming its support for the "Football Against Racism" campaign that was displayed on the giant screens during the halftime of the match.
Catalonia police said that they opened a comprehensive investigation on Wednesday into the anti-Islam and xenophobic chants at the friendly encounter between the teams of Spain and Egypt, which was part of the preparations for their participation in the 2026 World Cup.
