Crowds condemned for anti-Muslim chants during World Cup warm-up as police launch investigation

Ed Griffiths
Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:05:10 +0000

Catalan authorities have opened an investigation into anti-Muslim chanting that marred Spain's pre-World Cup friendly against Egypt on Tuesday evening.

The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, confirmed the probe on Wednesday via the social media platform X, stating they are examining "Islamophobic and xenophobic chants" that occurred at RCDE Stadium during the goalless draw.

The match in Barcelona saw sections of the home support directing chants towards the visiting Egyptian side.

Spain's justice minister Félix Bolaños responded forcefully on social media, writing: "Racist insults and chants embarrass us as a society. The far right will not leave any space free from their hatred, and those who remain silent today will be complicit."

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Within the opening 10 minutes of the fixture at Espanyol's ground on the outskirts of Barcelona, groups of Spanish supporters were observed jumping whilst chanting "bote, bote, bote musulman el que no bote", translated as "jump, jump, jump, whoever doesn't jump is a Muslim".

The chanting resumed during the first half and again shortly after the interval.

Stadium officials intervened multiple times, broadcasting appeals over the public address system, urging spectators to quieten down.

These announcements were greeted with whistles from the crowd.

An on-screen message reminded attendees that Spanish legislation prohibits and penalises participation in violent, xenophobic, homophobic or racist conduct at sporting events.

The Spanish football federation issued a statement condemning the behaviour and confirmed it had ordered the stadium announcements calling for an end to all forms of violence at football matches.

Spain's head coach Luis de la Fuente said: "I feel total and absolute repulsion towards any xenophobic or racist attitudes. They are intolerable."

Midfielder Pedri echoed his manager's sentiments, saying: "We, as players, have been shocked by the chants too. We don't agree to any sort of racist chant. We did not expect it. We all have to work together to stop this from happening in stadiums."

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La @rfef se suma al mensaje de nuestro fútbol contra el racismo y condena cualquier acto de violencia en los estadios. pic.twitter.com/dP961KOKzc
— RFEF (@rfef) March 31, 2026

Sports minister Milagros Tolon added: "Hate, racism and xenophobia have no place in stadiums or in our society."

The chanting was particularly notable given that approximately 90 per cent of Egypt's population follows Islam, according to the World Religion Database.

Moreover, Spain's own teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old Barcelona forward, is himself a practising Muslim.

Egypt's national anthem was also jeered by sections of the crowd before kick-off.

The friendly formed part of both nations' preparations for this summer's World Cup.

Both teams have already secured qualification for the tournament.

Spain's group stage opponents include Saudi Arabia.

The match had originally been scheduled to take place in Qatar but was relocated after the region was affected by the Iran war.