The Spain-Egypt friendly match, intended as a peaceful prelude to the 2026 World Cup, was marred by racist and Islamophobic chants, sparking outrage and highlighting the persistent issue of discrimination in sports. The incident, condemned by players and officials alike, underscores the enduring influence of colonial-era stereotypes and the political dimensions of football as a stage for far-right ideologies. DR ‹ › The friendly match between Spain and Egypt (0-0), played on Tuesday, March 31, as part of preparations for this summer's 2026 World Cup in North America, was overshadowed by racist and Islamophobic chants targeting Egyptian players. During the game at RCDE Stadium in Cornellà, sections of the crowd repeatedly chanted «Muslim, if you don't jump», while also booing the Egyptian national anthem before kickoff. The incidents quickly sparked outrage, reigniting debate over racism in Spanish stadiums, with Spain international Lamine Yamal, a Muslim himself, condemning what he described as «disrespectful and intolerable» behavior. «I know it [the chant] was directed at the opposing team and wasn't personal against me, but as a Muslim, it's still disrespectful and intolerable», he wrote on Instagram, adding that «using a religion as a taunt on the field makes you ignorant and racist». The Royal Spanish Football Federation also denounced the chants, stating that it «stands against racism in football». Stadiums as political and social spaces Reflecting on the incident, Mehdi Alioua, a sociology professor at Sciences Po–International University of Rabat (UIR) and a specialist in migration, said such racist, xenophobic, and in this case Islamophobic, chants are not new, but are less common in international matches involving national teams. «When they do occur, it is often during friendlies or in less controlled stadium environments. In major competitions, such incidents remain relatively rare», he noted. By contrast, such behavior is «much more frequent» at club level, particularly in parts of Italy, France, and Spain, where «certain sections of stadiums are occupied by far-right groups that use football as a platform for political messaging». Alioua emphasized that football «has always had a political dimension», but noted that today in Europe «far-right movements tend to channel public anger more than left-wing groups, which helps explain their visibility in stadiums». More broadly, he said the trend reflects a wider political shift: «Over the past two to three decades, identity-based nationalism, often aligned with far-right ideologies, has gained ground globally». This dynamic is not limited to Europe, he added, but can be observed elsewhere in different forms, accompanied by «rhetoric centered on exclusion, hierarchy, and the rejection of minorities». Colonial stereotypes still shaping perceptions In Europe specifically, Alioua stressed that this racism «is rooted in older forms of anti-Arab and anti-Black racism», shaped by «colonial history and orientalist narratives that portrayed others as inferior or threatening». Speaking about Spain, in particular, he noted that «anti-Muslim sentiment has deeper historical roots», dating back to the «Inquisition and the long-standing persecution of Muslims and Jews», with «terms historically used to stigmatize Muslims» still present in certain contexts. According to him, these imaginaries continue to shape perceptions today, portraying North Africans, for instance, as «deceitful or dangerous». These stereotypes are «widely disseminated in colonial-era cinema and still embedded in collective memory in countries such as France and Spain», he added. He also pointed to recent tensions, including those following the controversial Morocco–Senegal AFCON final, which illustrate how such narratives can resurface. «On both sides, hostile rhetoric at times veered into racism, whether portraying Senegalese players as violent or Moroccans as dishonest», he recalled, stressing that these stereotypes are also «inherited from colonial frameworks and continue to circulate across societies». However, Alioua signaled that «what is changing is not only the phenomenon itself, but the way it is exposed and perceived». «It is important to note that racism is not necessarily increasing in absolute terms, but its expression has become more visible», he warned. With the widespread use of smartphones and social media, incidents that once went unnoticed are now recorded and shared instantly. «Football, as a highly mediatised space followed by millions, naturally amplifies these dynamics», he concluded.
