Barcelona's commanding 4-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu was threatened by disturbing incidents of racial abuse directed at their teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
The 17-year-old star, who made history by becoming the youngest-ever El Clasico scorer, received some racist taunts and xenophobic insults during Saturday's match. This has quickly prompted immediate action from Spanish authorities and football organizations.
Video footage from the El Clasico highlights showed Yamal being targeted with racist abuse while preparing to take a corner kick and after scoring his historic goal.
Reactions from Authorities and Clubs
In response to the Barcelona-Real Madrid match report of racist behavior, Real Madrid issued a statement condemning the "deplorable and despicable insults." The club also launched an internal investigation to identify the perpetrators, as it emphasized its commitment to taking appropriate action against those responsible for the racist abuse.
LaLiga, meanwhile, has also taken decisive steps, immediately reporting the incident to the Hate Crimes Section of the National Police Information Brigade. The league confirmed that Yamal was not the only target; fellow Barcelona players Raphinha and Ansu Fati also reportedly faced racist abuse during the match.
As part of their investigation, LaLiga announced they would employ lip-reading experts to analyze the reported footage and identify specific insults made against the players.
United Stand Against Racism
Beyond the sporting bodies, the Spanish government has equally joined in on the La Liga racism condemnation. The Spanish Supreme Sports Council (CSD) announced an emergency meeting to address the incident. The council brought together various stakeholders including the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sports, police forces, and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Likewise, Spain's migration minister Elma Saiz strongly condemned the incident. According to her, such behavior would not be normalized in sports.
Wrapping Up
In the meantime, Barcelona has confirmed their intention to file a formal complaint with LaLiga regarding the racist abuse of their players. This is not the first of its kind. There have been several other racist episodes in Spanish football, including the recent arrest of four individuals for conducting an online hate campaign against Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr.
The latest incident has equally drawn support from Vinicius himself, who has also been a prominent figure in the fight against racism in Spanish football. The Brazilian international expressed solidarity with the Barcelona players, stating firmly that "there is no place for these criminals in our society."