The Spanish government joins the investigation into racist insults at the Bernabeu

MADRID: The Spanish government, LaLiga and Real Madrid reacted strongly on Sunday after racist insults were allegedly leveled at Barcelona players during Saturday’s match at the Bernabeu Stadium.

Spanish media reported that 17-year-old Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, who is of Equatorial Guinean and Moroccan descent, was among the players targeted with xenophobic and racist abuse during El Clasico. Barcelona defeated arch-rivals Real 4-0, with Yamal among the goalscorers.

Spain’s Supreme Sports Council (CSD) condemned the incidents and said they would meet on Monday to discuss the matter.

The State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport, the CSD, the police and the civil guard, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), LaLiga and the Public Prosecution Service.

“LaLiga will immediately report the racist insults and gestures received by Barcelona players to the Hate Crimes Unit of the National Police Information Brigade, and will also inform the coordinating prosecutor of the Hate Crimes and Discrimination Unit of the Public Prosecution Service,” LaLiga said. in a statement.

“LaLiga strongly condemns the incidents at the Santiago Bernabeu and remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicate any form of racist behavior and hatred inside and outside the stadiums.”

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Real Madrid said they have opened an investigation to identify the perpetrators so that action can be taken.

“Real Madrid strongly condemns any behavior linked to racism, xenophobia or violence in football and sport, and deeply regrets the insults expressed by some fans last night in one of the corners of the stadium,” the club said in a statement.

Barcelona did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Spanish Migration Minister Elma Saiz also condemned the incident.

“We will not allow aggression that we do not tolerate in other areas to become normalized in sport,” she said in a statement.

The RFEF said it maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards racist abuse and violence in stadiums, calling it a “social scourge”.

“The RFEF will work with all people and institutions that make up sport and society to put an end to violence and insults at sporting venues and events,” the RFEF said.

The RFEF and LaLiga have taken steps to tackle the rise in racist abuse, including partial stadium closures.

Four people were arrested and interrogated in Spain on Thursday on suspicion of waging an online hate campaign encouraging fans to target Real Madrid’s Brazilian striker Vinicius Jr. racially abused in the build-up to their match against Atletico Madrid last month.

In June, the Valencia Magistrate issued the first conviction for racist insults at a football stadium in Spain following an investigation into racist comments against Vinicius at the Mastella stadium.

Vinicius, who has emerged as a prominent figure in the fight against racism in both Spain and world football after suffering multiple incidents of racist abuse in the past two years, showed his support for Barcelona’s players.

“There is no place for these criminals in our society,” he said of the abusers. “I know that Madrid and the police will do everything to identify and punish the guilty.”