Athletic Bilbao’s Moroccan forward, Maroan Sannadi, was subjected to racist abuse during his team’s Liga match against Espanyol de Barcelona on February 16.
The incident occurred after a standout individual performance by Sannadi, when he won a corner in the 16th minute.
The referee, Cuadra Fernandez, was alerted to the offensive chants by Sannadi’s teammate, Iñaki Williams, and immediately activated the anti-racism protocol, temporarily halting the match.
Williams, who had witnessed the incident firsthand, shared his dismay at the discriminatory behavior.
“Football should be a place of pleasure, such things should not happen,” Williams said.
“Maroan made an impressive individual action which resulted in a corner, and he was insulted thus: ‘puto moro’ (meaning ‘f… Moor’).
The referee reacted very well. The guilty parties must be punished. This is not the first time this has happened here.”
His remarks shed light on the troubling recurrence of such incidents in the league.
In response to the chants, the stadium broadcast a message on the screens urging fans to stop the racist behavior before play could resume.
Both Athletic Bilbao and Espanyol de Barcelona condemned the racial abuse through official statements on social media, emphasizing their commitment to eradicating discrimination from the sport.
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of racism in football, particularly in Spain’s top divisions.
While the swift action of the referee and the joint condemnation by both clubs reflect a growing determination to tackle the issue, the recurrence of such abuse underscores the challenges still faced by the sport in confronting racism.
The match eventually resumed after a brief interruption, but the incident has sparked renewed calls for stronger measures to combat racism in football, both from fans and within the wider football community.
Sannadi, who was visibly impacted by the abuse, received support from his teammates, including Williams, who has been an outspoken advocate against racism throughout his career.
Both clubs and their supporters are now facing pressure to ensure that the appropriate actions are taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
As football continues to serve as a platform for inclusion and diversity, it is clear that the fight against racism remains an ongoing challenge that requires collective effort from all sectors of the sport.
✊🏿 Unid@s contra el racismo, tolerancia cero ante cualquier actitud discriminatoria.
❌ Estas personas y actitudes sobran en los campos de fútbol y sobran en nuestra sociedad. #AthleticClub 🦁 https://t.co/fhEmB7x6U9
— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) February 16, 2025
