What's happened
During El Clasico on October 26, 2024, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal faced racist abuse from fans at the Santiago Bernabéu. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, prompting investigations by La Liga and Real Madrid. Authorities are taking steps to address the rising tide of racism in Spanish football.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to BBC News, videos surfaced showing Yamal being taunted by fans after scoring, prompting La Liga to report the abuse to authorities. The Guardian noted that Real Madrid has opened an investigation to identify the offenders, emphasizing their commitment to eradicating racism. The Independent highlighted the broader context of rising racist incidents in Spanish football, including recent arrests related to an online hate campaign against Vinícius Jr. These reports collectively underscore the urgent need for action against racism in sports.
How we got here
The incident follows a series of racist abuses in Spanish football, including a recent online hate campaign against Real Madrid's Vinícius Jr. Measures have been introduced to combat racism, including partial stadium closures and legal actions against offenders.
More on these topics
-
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, commonly referred to as Real Madrid, is a Spanish professional football club based in Madrid.
Founded on 6 March 1902 as Madrid Football Club, the club has traditionally worn a white home kit since inception.
-
The Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Primera División, commonly known as La Liga, is the men's top professional football division of the Spanish football league system.
-
Futbol Club Barcelona, commonly referred to as Barcelona and colloquially known as Barça, is a Spanish professional football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
-
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana is a Spanish professional footballer from Catalonia who plays as a right winger for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team. He is regarded as one of the best young talents in the world.
-
Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southwestern Europe with some pockets of territory across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean. Its continental European territory is situated on the Iberian Peninsula.