The Mossos d'Esquadra have opened an investigation into the racist chants registered during the friendly match between the Spanish national team and Egypt played at the RCDE Stadium. The incidents occurred both before the start of the match and during the first half, in a match that also left political slogans from a part of the stands.
Before the start of the match, several fans of the Spanish national team booed the Egyptian anthem while it played in the Cornellà de Llobregat stadium. Once the ball was in play, in the 8th minute, a part of the Spanish public chanted "Muslim who doesn't jump", which was heard again later, in the middle of the first half, although with less intensity.
Investigation opened for the chants at the RCDE Stadium
The Catalan police announced this Wednesday in a message on X the opening of proceedings to clarify what happened in the blue and white venue. The investigation focuses on the anti-Muslim chants heard during the match, in a context in which expressions such as "Puigdemont to prison", "Pedro Sánchez, son of a bitch" and "Spanish Gibraltar" were also heard.
For now, no concrete measures derived from this investigation have emerged, nor if the authors of the chants have been identified. The case remains under police analysis.
Institutional condemnation and criticism for the response in the stadium
Political reactions were not long in coming. The Minister of Sports, Berni Álvarez, condemned the events on social media and described the shouts as "unacceptable". Later, in an interview on SER Catalunya, he maintained that the protocols arrived "late" and defended that action should have been taken "with forcefulness" in the face of an episode he defined as "serious".
Also the Minister of Equality, Eva Menor, censured what happened and called the chants "unacceptable" in a message on social media. Along the same lines, the Government delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, spoke out, who "roundly" condemned the anti-Muslim chants and regretted that the sporting event was seen "shamefully tainted by racist chants".
"Episodes like this cannot repeat again never again" - Carlos Prieto, delegate of the Government in Catalonia
Prieto also added that the need to activate the "pertinents" protocols was conveyed to the party organizers and assured that that activation "occurred".
Rejection also from the Spanish national team
After the match, coach Luis de la Fuente referred to what happened and stated that it was necessary to "remove the violent from society". Footballers Pedri and Grimaldo joined that condemnation, rejecting the racist chants at the end of the friendly.
The match, which was supposed to serve as a preparatory fixture for the national team, was thus marked by events that have prompted a police and institutional response. The Mossos' investigation will now have to determine the extent of what happened in the stands and if it is appropriate to determine responsibilities for some shouts that have placed the RCDE Stadium at the center of the controversy.