Real Madrid, the Spanish league, and the local government condemned the racist insults aimed at Lamine Yamal during Saturday’s “clasico” match. Madrid announced it is working to identify those responsible for the abuse directed at the Barcelona forward.
Madrid stated it “has opened an investigation in order to locate and identify the perpetrators of these deplorable and despicable insults so that the appropriate disciplinary and judicial measures can be taken.”
The league plans to formally denounce the “intolerable racist” insults and gestures made against Barcelona players at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The league said it “strongly condemns these events” and “remains firm in its commitment to eradicate any type of racist behaviour and hatred inside and outside stadiums. There is no place for this scourge in sport.”
The Spanish government mentioned that the commission responsible for combating violence, racism, and other hate crimes in sports will meet on Monday to review what happened at the Bernabeu.
“The ‘clasico’ is one of the greatest spectacles in the world, a true expression of the importance that soccer has in our country,” the government said. “During this game, or in any sporting event, there can never be any room for expressions of violence, racism, xenophobia, hatred or intolerance.”
The reaction came after videos on social media showed the alleged insults directed at Yamal after he scored Barcelona’s third goal in the second half of their 4-0 win against Madrid. The 17-year-old celebrated in a corner in front of Madrid fans and made gestures that seemed to provoke them.
Some fans could be heard shouting insults at Yamal and the other Barcelona players.
“Real Madrid strongly condemns any kind of behaviour involving racism, xenophobia or violence in football and sport, and deeply regrets the insults that a few fans uttered last night in one of the corners of the stadium,” the club said in a statement.
Madrid has been speaking out against racist insults aimed at its forward Vinícius Júnior, who is also Black, for several years, including during a match at Barcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium.
Earlier this month, four Atletico Madrid fans who reportedly led a social media campaign promoting racist acts against Vinícius were detained.
Barcelona’s victory put the Catalan club six points ahead of Madrid at the top of the league standings after 11 matches.
