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Rabat – Lamine Yamal has said he does not regret choosing to represent Spain instead of Morocco, despite the anti-Muslim chants heard from part of the crowd during La Roja’s friendly against Egypt.
The Barcelona winger addressed the incident during an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena SER, three months after the chants overshadowed the goalless match at RCDE Stadium near Barcelona.
Yamal, who is Muslim and was eligible to represent Morocco, was asked whether the incident had caused him to reconsider his international decision.
“I do not regret it,” Morocco, was asked whether the incident had he said. “I chose Spain and I would choose Spain again.”
The 18-year-old explained that he did not view the chants as an issue involving Moroccans specifically because they targeted Muslims of all nationalities.
He said Spanish, Senegalese and other Muslim supporters or players would all have been offended by the words used inside the stadium.
Yamal refuses to generalize
Yamal also stressed that the actions of one section of the crowd did not represent the entire country.
“I know that not all of Spain was chanting,” he said, explaining that only part of the stadium took part.
The forward said he felt sadness for those responsible because they appeared not to understand the meaning or consequences of what they were shouting.
He added that people are raised with different values, referring to the education he received from his parents and contrasting it with the behavior displayed in the stands.
His response separated criticism of the supporters involved from his wider relationship with Spain.
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Yamal was born and raised in Spain and progressed through the country’s youth national teams before making his senior debut.
Although his Moroccan background made him eligible to represent the Atlas Lions, he ultimately chose La Roja and has repeatedly defended that decision.
He told Cadena SER that he continues to feel fully committed to Spain and believes the national team are among the favorites to win the World Cup.
Chants condemned across Spain
The controversy began during Spain’s March friendly against Egypt when some supporters chanted a phrase targeting Muslims.
Yamal publicly condemned the incident at the time, describing the use of religion as a form of mockery inside a football stadium as ignorant and racist.
Catalan police later opened an investigation into the chants.
The Spanish Football Federation, national team coach Luis de la Fuente and members of the Spanish government also condemned the behavior.
The Egyptian Football Association described the incident as unacceptable and called for action against discrimination in football.
Messages reminding spectators that racist and xenophobic behavior could constitute a criminal offense were shown on the stadium screens, but the chants reportedly continued.
