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Rabat – The Egyptian Football Association has condemned the racist chants and the lack of respect some Spanish fans showed toward Egypt’s national anthem in the friendly match against Spain.
The game, played in Barcelona as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup, saw sections of the crowd direct offensive chants toward Egypt’s players.
The situation escalated further when boos were heard during the Egyptian national anthem before kickoff.
“The Egyptian Football Association expresses its full condemnation of the hateful, racist incident that took place during our national team’s friendly match against Spain,” the Egyptian FA said in a statement. The federation also addressed the anthem incident.
“What happened, with some fans chanting racist slogans and showing a lack of respect during the national anthem, is completely unacceptable in football stadiums,” it added.
The match at Espanyol’s stadium was meant to serve as preparation for both teams ahead of the World Cup. Instead, it became another example of how crowd behavior can overshadow the game.
“The actions of a small group of supporters will not affect the strong relations between the Egyptian and Spanish football federations,” the statement said.
The Egyptian FA also acknowledged the reactions that followed the incident. Spanish authorities, including the football federation, the Ministry of Sport, and several players, spoke out against the chants and rejected what happened.
Egypt’s statement welcomed those responses, describing them as important steps in addressing the issue.
The incident adds to a growing list of similar cases in Spanish football, where racism and discriminatory chants continue to appear despite repeated efforts to stop them.
The federation closed its statement, thanking the Spanish side for the reception given to the Egyptian delegation in Barcelona and reaffirming its openness toward cooperation.
