Scandal in Cornellà: Racist chants tarnish the friendly between Spain and Egypt

Racism and Islamophobia take center stage in the Cornellà-El Prat stadium during the football match, generating strong political and social rejection

On the night of March 31, 2026, a friendly between the Spanish and Egyptian soccer teams became an unexpected scene of social tension. The racist chants that were heard in the stands of the RCDE Stadium in Cornellà-El Prat, in Barcelona, shook the collective conscience of a society that fights against racism and intolerance. The words of hate resonated in an environment that should be one of enjoyment and unity, a phenomenon that has not gone unnoticed by political leaders or citizens.

The outrage was immediate. The Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts, Félix Bolaños, expressed his shame at the Islamophobic and xenophobic chants that were chanted on several occasions during the first half of the match. The most notable moment of this unfortunate display of intolerance was the chant “He who doesn't bounce is a Muslim,” which was repeated several times by a section of the fans, which generated a wave of criticism. Bolaños did not hesitate to use his social network account

The minister also highlighted that the silence of those who do not speak out against such behavior “turns them into accomplices.” In a forceful manner, he stated that the Spanish government continues to work for a respectful, tolerant and hate-free country, as demonstrated by the firm stance of the country's president against this type of attitude. Furthermore, he pointed out that those who remain silent in the face of racism, whether out of indifference or political interests, must assume their responsibility.

The Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, quickly opened an investigation into the racist chants at the stadium. According to initial information, the chants were not only Islamophobic, but also contained xenophobic messages that incited rejection of people from other cultures and religions. These acts occurred in an environment where football, which should be a space of coexistence and respect, became a terrain of hatred and division.

The Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, also echoed the complaints and strongly condemned the events. In his statement, he stressed that these acts “do not represent us” as a society and regretted that the growth of “ultra groups encouraged by ultra politics” has been allowed. For Torres, racism and hatred have no place in sport or daily life, and he called for reflection on all those who remain silent in the face of intolerance. “Whoever remains silent is an accomplice,” he stated.

The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, was even more direct in his criticism, attributing what happened to the xenophobic discourses that have become normalized in political and media discourse. Puente did not hesitate to point out the most radical right as the main person responsible for the breeding ground of hatred that allowed these chants to become public. “It is fascism, friends. And it is not laughed at, nor is it whitewashed,” he remarked, referring to the rise of the extreme right in the country.

From the political sphere, ERC spokesperson in Congress, Gabriel Rufián, also expressed concern about the fact that the Islamophobic chants came from a sector of the fans that identified with Muslim football figures. Rufián, known for his critical stances on the Spanish right, stated that if someone “screams against Muslims while wearing a Muslim soccer player's shirt, it's not that Muslims bother you, it's that poor Muslims bother you.” A reflection that, for him, reflects the deep hypocrisy that exists in certain sectors of Spanish society.

For her part, the Minister of Equality and spokesperson for Unidas Podemos, Irene Montero, regretted that these acts of hate have become so visible in the sports field. According to Montero, this is not just an isolated incident, but a reflection of the Islamophobia that has been gaining strength in Spain thanks to the normalization of hate speech in the media and in politics. “Let's stop it before Islamophobia gets worse,” he declared, calling for unity in the face of intolerance.

The tragedy of the racist chants was not limited to the atmosphere of the stadium. On social networks, the reaction was immediate, with thousands of users expressing their indignation and concern about the normalization of racism in Spanish society. Many of the comments agreed that what happened in the party is just the tip of the iceberg of a much larger problem that affects institutions, the media and politics in the country.

Antonio Maíllo, Por Andalucía candidate for the Presidency of the Board, also echoed the criticism, warning that these chants reflect a serious problem of structural racism that persists in Spain. For him, the image of desolation of Lamine Yamal, a soccer player of Moroccan origin, in front of the chants was a reflection of the deep wound that racism continues to cause in Spanish society. Maíllo urged the RFEF and the Prosecutor's Office to intervene urgently and not allow this type of behavior to go unnoticed.

Finally, on the other side of the coin, the general secretary of Vox, Ignacio Garriga, took advantage of the occasion to launch his own criticisms, although focused on the approach that he considers incorrect of the left and the media. In his speech, Garriga mentioned several issues related to immigration and terrorism, attributing to the left a double standard in its treatment of certain problems. However, his words were quickly rejected by most political groups, which called for greater unity in the face of hate speech and xenophobia.

This incident has revealed a deep conflict within Spanish society, where intolerance and racism continue to be present, not only in bars or on the street, but also in spaces that should be for coexistence and enjoyment, such as football. The responsibility now falls on everyone: on the fans, on the authorities and on the media, to eradicate these displays of hatred that continue to stain sport and society in general.

Frequently asked questions

1. What happened in the match between Spain and Egypt?: During the friendly between the Spanish and Egyptian teams, some fans chanted racist and Islamophobic chants, prompting a wave of condemnation from political figures.
2. Who has condemned the racist chants?: Ministers such as Félix Bolaños, Ángel Víctor Torres, and Óscar Puente, as well as other politicians, have expressed their rejection and concern about the incident, stressing that hatred has no place in society.
3. What does the chant “he who does not bounce is a Muslim” mean?: It is an Islamophobic chant that incites contempt towards Muslims, something that was chanted by part of the fans at the Cornellà-El Prat stadium.
4. How have the political parties reacted?: Left-wing political parties have strongly condemned the chants and have pointed out the responsibility of certain sectors of politics and the media in the normalization of hate speech.
5. What measures are being taken in response to this incident?: The Mossos d'Esquadra have opened an investigation into the events and the RFEF and the Prosecutor's Office have been urged to intervene immediately to prevent these acts from being repeated.
6. What role do the media play in this context?: Many politicians have pointed out that the media, as well as certain political discourses, have contributed to the normalization of Islamophobia and racism in society.
7. How does this incident affect the image of Spain?: These types of acts tarnish the image of Spain, a country that should be a model of tolerance and integration, as defended by various political figures.
8. What can we do as a society to eradicate racism?