Spain vs Egypt Friendly: Police in Spain probe Islamophobic and xenophobic chants

Spanish authorities have launched an investigation following disturbing Islamophobic and xenophobic chants during an international friendly between Spain and Egypt on Tuesday night.

The match, held at the RCDE Stadium in Cornellà on the outskirts of Barcelona, was overshadowed by sections of the crowd chanting offensive phrases, including “If you don’t jump, you’re a Muslim.”

Videos circulating online captured large groups of fans repeating the chant in unison as they jumped in the stands.

The regional police force, Mossos d’Esquadra, confirmed it has opened an inquiry into the incident. Investigators are now assessing the events inside the stadium and determining whether any laws were broken.

Reports from Spanish media indicate that match organisers attempted to intervene during the game by displaying anti-discrimination messages on stadium screens and issuing announcements over the public address system. These reminders warned supporters that offensive and discriminatory behaviour would not be tolerated, but the chants had already gained traction among sections of the crowd.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation swiftly condemned the incident. Its president, Rafael Louzán, described the episode as an “isolated incident,” while maintaining that the overall atmosphere in the stadium remained largely positive.

“What we’ve done is condemn these kinds of attitudes and to say they must not be repeated,” he said.

The reaction from within the Spanish camp was equally firm. Midfielder Pedri admitted the chants unsettled the players and emphasised the urgent need to eradicate such conduct from the sport. Head coach Luis de la Fuente also denounced the behaviour, labelling it “intolerable” and expressing his “total rejection” of the incident.

Originally scheduled to be played in Qatar, the friendly was relocated to Spain due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. However, what was meant to be a routine international fixture has now sparked serious concerns over fan behaviour and racism in football.