The Spanish Football Federation and coach Luis de la Fuente condemned anti-Islamic chants that marred Tuesday’s 0-0 draw against Egypt in Barcelona ahead of the World Cup.
The Egyptian national anthem was jeered and the public announcement system at RCDE Stadium called on fans more than once not to make offensive comments.
It was the latest in a series of similar incidents to shadow Spanish football in recent years, with Real Madrid’s Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior in particular being repeatedly racially abused.
“What we have done is condemn these types of attitudes and say that they should not be repeated,” said Rafael Louzan, president of the Spanish Football Federation.
He called it «specific and isolated situations.»
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De la Fuente also condemned the behavior of some of the 35,000 spectators.
“It’s unbearable,” he told reporters as soon as he took his seat in the press room btrs.
“Violent people use football to carve out a niche for themselves.
“They must be removed from society, identified and kept as far away as possible,” the 64-year-old added.
The match in Catalonia was moved from Qatar due to the war in the Middle East and was played in a hostile environment from the start.
The European champions were wasteful in attack in his penultimate friendly on home ground before facing Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H in North America this summer.
Spain will reportedly play Iraq on June 4 and Peru four days later in Mexico in the final matches before the World Cup.
Veteran coach De la Fuente made 10 changes from Friday’s 3-0 friendly win over Serbia, with Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal the only player to keep his place.
Egypt were without their talisman Mohamed Salah, with the Liverpool forward sidelined since picking up a muscle problem against Galatasaray on March 18.
The English club is hopeful that he can return this weekend in the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City.
The hosts had the best of the early chances, with Ferran Torres unlucky not to score after 20 minutes.
Just before the half-hour mark, Egyptian Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush hit the post against the flow of play, underscoring his side’s potential at the World Cup when they face Belgium, Iran and New Zealand in Group G.
The hosts took control again after the break, with Pedri denied after 57 minutes and Cristhian Mosquera’s header going wide 13 minutes later.
With six minutes to go, Egypt were reduced to ten men, with defensive midfielder Hamdy Fathy receiving a second yellow card.
Two minutes later, De la Fuente’s side squandered another chance when left back Alejandro Grimaldo hit the crossbar in their last chance to break the deadlock.
Published on April 1, 2026
