Islamophobic Incident in Real Madrid-Bayern Game Shows Racism is Systemic In Spain

Rabat – Another Islamophobic incident happened in Spain again. Before Real Madrid faced Bayern Munich in the Champions League, some fans gathered near the Santiago Bernabeu and started chanting: “Whoever doesn’t jump is a Muslim.” 

 The same chant had already been heard days earlier during Spain’s friendly against Egypt at RCDE Stadium. Fans were seen jumping and repeating the same words during the game. The referee did not stop the match, but the popular backlash came after.

The mounting outrage prompted FIFA to step by opening a disciplinary case against the Spanish FA Over Anti-Muslim Chants

“FIFA has today initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Federation for the incidents that occurred during the friendly match against Egypt,” the governing body said in a statement.

Yamal recent incident

Lamine Yamal spoke the next day.“I am a Muslim, thank God,” he wrote. “I understand not all the fanbase is like that, but to those who sing those chants, using religion as something to mock people in a football stadium leaves you as ignorant and racist people. Football is to enjoy and support, not to offend people by who they are or what they believe in.”

Yamal was part of the Spanish team that played against Egypt, and he felt directly targeted by the racist chants. Other Spanish players also spoke out after the game, and the federation criticized the fans’ behavior as unacceptable.

Yet this is not new to Spanish football. In October 2024, Barcelona players, including Yamal, were targeted with racist abuse during El Clásico at the Bernabeu. Police later made arrests, and the case drew strong reactions across Spain.

Even before that, Vinicius Junior faced repeated abuse in La Liga. Some fans were later convicted. That showed action can be taken.

But the incidents did not stop. From club matches to international games, the same chants and insults have kept coming back. The names change, the teams change, but the pattern stays.

Spain will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Morocco and Portugal. That puts more attention on what happens now.

The chant heard before Real Madrid against Bayern was not just another moment around a game. 

It was another reminder that racism and Islamophobia are systemic, deep-seated issues in Spanish society.

Read also: FIFA Opens Disciplinary Case Against Spanish FA Over Anti-Muslim Chants

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