Celta Vigo midfielder Ilaix Moriba was subjected to racist abuse during Saturday’s La Liga fixture against FC Barcelona, sparking fresh condemnation over the persistence of racism in Spanish football.
The 21-year-old, who came through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy before moving on to RB Leipzig and stints with Valencia and Getafe, was targeted by sections of the home crowd as he was substituted in the second half of the match at the Camp Nou.
Moriba’s return to his former club was marred by the disgraceful chants, which prompted an immediate and emotional reaction from Celta Vigo head coach Claudio Giráldez.
“I would like to take this opportunity to denounce the racist attacks that Ilaix Moriba was subjected to when he was substituted,” Giráldez said in his post-match press conference. “I find it sad that this continues to happen in football today.”
The match, part of the 32nd round of the La Liga season, had been highly anticipated due to Moriba’s past ties with Barcelona, but any sporting narrative was overshadowed by the unacceptable behaviour from parts of the crowd.
Moriba, who chose to represent Guinea at international level, maintained his composure amid the abuse.
The incident is the latest in a disturbing pattern of racist conduct in Spanish football this season, underscoring what many see as a systemic failure to address the issue with sufficient urgency or consequence.
Despite repeated pledges from league authorities and clubs to tackle racism, players of African descent and other ethnic minorities continue to be subjected to verbal abuse from the stands.
No official statement had been released by FC Barcelona or La Liga by the time of publication, but pressure is expected to mount on both institutions to act swiftly.
Calls for tougher sanctions, including stadium bans and points deductions, have grown louder in recent months as public confidence in current anti-racism measures continues to erode.
Moriba, once regarded as one of La Masia’s brightest prospects, left Barcelona in 2021 after contract disputes.
Though his time at the Catalan club ended prematurely, he remains a product of their academy—making Saturday’s abuse all the more jarring given his roots in the very city that once nurtured his talent.
The spotlight now turns to La Liga’s response, as the league once again finds itself grappling with the scourge of racism on its biggest stages.
