Racist and Islamophobic chants during a recent Spain–Egypt friendly have reignited concerns over discrimination in European football. From Larbi Benbarek to Lamine Yamal, repeated incidents show that Moroccan players continue to face racism across stadiums, media, and social platforms. DR ‹ › Following a friendly match between La Roja and Egypt ahead of the 2026 World Cup, racist and Islamophobic chants from a section of the Spanish crowd reignited debate over discrimination in European football. The chants, which targeted Egyptian players, also offended Spain's own forward Lamine Yamal, a Moroccan-origin Muslim player. The incident quickly drew condemnation from the player, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, and FIFA, which has since opened disciplinary proceedings. But this episode is far from isolated, not only for Yamal, but also for Moroccan players across European clubs. A closer look reveals a long pattern of incidents that have marked football. From «La Perle Noire» to early discrimination Larbi Benbarek, known as «La Perle Noire», was one of the first global stars of African and Arab football. Born in Casablanca, he rose to prominence with Olympique de Marseille and later Atlético Madrid, where he won two La Liga titles. Celebrated for his talent, Pelé once said: «If I am the king of football, then Benbarek is the god». Yet his career unfolded in a colonial context marked by racism. He experienced it firsthand as early as December 1938, during an Italy–France match in Naples. At the height of Mussolini's fascist regime, Benbarek faced a hostile reception from both the public and the media. Whistles and racist insults echoed through the stadium, targeting him because of his skin color. Belgium and Italy: racism in stadiums and beyond Belgian-Moroccan midfielder Yassine El Ghanassy experienced repeated racist abuse during a match between KAA Gent and Lierse SK. Throughout the game, he was insulted with racist slurs, including being called a «monkey». At one point, as he prepared to take a late free kick in front of the stands, plastic bottles, lighters, and insults were thrown at him, with the word «macaque» shouted from the crowd. After the final whistle, a supporter threw a beer at his head. Despite the severity of the abuse, the referee's report mentioned only the projectiles, not the racist insults, illustrating how such incidents were often minimized. El Ghanassy later criticized the referee's inaction, saying he had been told to «keep playing». In Italy, racism extended beyond the stands. In 2017, Mehdi Benatia, then a defender for Juventus, cut short a post-match television interview after hearing a racist insult through his earpiece. The broadcaster later apologized. Spain: a recurring stage for abuse Spain has emerged as a recurring setting for racist incidents involving Moroccan players. In March 2026, Omar El Hilali reported a racist remark during a La Liga match between RCD Espanyol and Elche CF. He accused Elche striker Rafa Mir of directing an offensive remark at him, reportedly saying: «You came on a small boat». The referee stopped the match under the anti-racism protocol. Less than a month later, El Hilali was again targeted during a derby against FC Barcelona. Sections of the crowd directed offensive chants at him, prompting repeated warnings from stadium officials. The chants intensified after a clash with Gavi and resumed later in the match. Other Moroccan players have faced similar treatment in recent seasons. In 2024, Maroan Sannadi was subjected to racist insults during a match between Athletic Club and Espanyol, leading to a temporary suspension of play. Also in 2024, Youssef En-Nesyri faced racist chants during a La Liga match despite scoring twice for Sevilla FC. His moment of triumph was marred by discriminatory chants captured on camera. In 2025, Omar Sadik was insulted during a match involving Espanyol B, with a fan calling him «f***ing Moroccan», prompting the referee to activate the anti-racism protocol. From stadiums to social media Racism has increasingly extended beyond stadiums into digital spaces. In 2024, Ilias Akhomach became the target of a wave of racist abuse online after a match between Villarreal CF and Barcelona, following a rough tackle on Lamine Yamal. He received hundreds of messages containing racist slurs. That same summer, Achraf Hakimi was targeted by a wave of racist and Islamophobic abuse following Morocco's Olympic semi-final defeat to Spain. His social media post drew hateful comments, including slurs, emojis, and degrading images. Hakimi was not the only one. According to data from the Spanish Observatory of Racism and Xenophobia (Oberaxe), Lamine Yamal became the most targeted player by racist abuse on social media during the 2024–2025 season, with more than 20,000 insults recorded. Abuse beyond the pitch and across leagues Racism has also affected Moroccan players across other European leagues. In the Netherlands, in 2025, Bilal Ould-Chikh spoke out about repeated abuse while playing for FC Volendam. He described being called a «cancerous Muslim» and recalled a supporter telling him: «Nice goal, but it's a shame someone like you scored it». He described the experience as a «trauma». In Turkey, Younes Belhanda faced multiple incidents. In 2018, after a defeat, a supporter told him to «go home», triggering a heated exchange. Later, in 2021, a club official referred to him as a «Bedouin» on social media. He condemned the remarks as «inadmissible». Even national team players have not been spared. In 2023, in Madrid, a hotel employee was arrested after posting racist and Islamophobic comments targeting members of the Moroccan national team.
