Barcelona and Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has been subjected to racist abuse, with a video circulating online showing a group of individuals chanting “go back to Morocco” at the 16-year-old winger.
The incident, which has sparked widespread condemnation, reportedly took place in Madrid. The video shows Yamal walking with a group of people when the chants begin. The player, who was born in Spain to a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, does not engage and continues walking.
This is not the first time Yamal has faced such abuse. Earlier this season, during a match against Atlético Madrid, similar racist chants were directed at him from a section of the home crowd. The Spanish football federation (RFEF) opened an investigation into that incident.
The latest abuse has drawn immediate and strong reactions. Spain’s national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, publicly condemned the act. “I give all my support to Lamine Yamal,” De la Fuente stated. “We must eradicate these despicable behaviors from our sport and our society. There is no place for racism.”
Barcelona also released a statement expressing their “complete support and solidarity” with Yamal. The club reiterated its “absolute rejection of any racist or discriminatory act” and confirmed it is investigating the event to identify those responsible.
Yamal has broken numerous records since his debut for Barcelona and the Spanish national team, becoming a key figure for both at just 16 years old. The repeated racist incidents highlight the ongoing challenge football faces in stamping out discrimination from the stands and beyond.
