Barcelona rising star Lamine Yamal has addressed the issue of racial abuse in Spanish football, especially the reported abuse he suffered against Real Madrid.
The 17-year-old winger, whose African heritage traces back to Morocco and Equatorial Guinea, spoke about his experiences during a recent interview with Mundo Deportivo.
Yamal, who has been making waves in La Liga with his exceptional performances, recounted the disturbing incidents that occurred during Barcelona’s 4-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in October.
The match was marred by racist abuse hurled at several Barcelona players, including Ansu Fati, Raphinha, Alejandro Balde, and Yamal himself.
Despite the vile nature of these insults, Yamal’s response was one of strength and pride in his identity.
While acknowledging the unacceptability of racist behavior in football, Yamal called for stronger action from authorities.
“When you are winning 0-3 or 0-4 they can say anything to you, in the end they can’t do anything. They are watching you play, they are watching you beat them at their ground. They are seeing how they can’t get to the ball and it is the only thing they have left.
“So, as Balde said, being called black or whatever… I am and it doesn’t bother me. We are proud. And in the end, when they win, they don’t shout anything at you. That’s when they’re losing. And that’s it.
“It’s obviously wrong. There is no need to defend it. There is no room for this in football. They have to leave the ground. But hey, the Federation already knows it, everyone has seen it and they have to take the necessary measures.”
The issue of racial abuse in Spanish football has prompted some action, with two fans receiving prison sentences for abusing Vinicius Junior.
However, many incidents still result only in fines, leading to questions about the effectiveness of current deterrents.
