SPAIN STAR LAMINE YAMAL CONDEMNS 'INTOLERABLE' ANTI-MUSLIM CHANTS IN EGYPT DRAW AS POLICE LAINCH INVESTIGATION

Getty Images Sport

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has condemned the "intolerable" anti-Muslim chants that marred Spain’s goalless draw with Egypt at the RCDE Stadium. The 18-year-old, who is a practising Muslim, labelled the perpetrators "ignorant" and "racist" after local police launched a formal investigation. 

Police investigation launched

Per ESPN, the Mossos, a local strand of police in Barcelona, have confirmed a probe into "Islamophobic and xenophobic" chanting that occurred during Tuesday’s international friendly. Spectators aimed derogatory songs at the visiting side while also whistling during the Egyptian national anthem and halftime prayers. Although the chants were not specifically directed at Yamal, the teenage winger was deeply affected by the hostile atmosphere, and has taken to social media to vent his disgust.

Yamal issues statement

Taking to Instagram to address the situation, Yamal reaffirmed his faith and expressed his disappointment at the lack of respect shown toward his religion. The Spain star posted: "I am Muslim, Alhamdulillah. Yesterday at the stadium the chant of 'the one who doesn't jump is a Muslim' was heard. I know I was going for the rival team and it wasn't something personal against me, but as a Muslim person it doesn't stop being disrespectful and something intolerable. I understand that not all fanatics are like this, but to those who sing these things: using a religion as a mockery in a field leaves you ignorant and racist people. Football is to be enjoyed and encouraged, not to disrespect people for who they are or what they believe in. With that being said, thank you to the people who came to cheer us on, see you at the World Cup."

Catalonia sports minister speaks out

Catalonia’s sports minister, Berni Alvarez, has echoed Yamal's sentiments, describing the events as a "massive step backwards" for Spanish football while pledging to support the Barcelona forward.

He told reporters: "It's normal that he's affected by what happened. We will try and support him if we can make contact with him. What happened was deplorable. It's an extremely serious issue which we absolutely condemn. It's a massive step backwards. The sensation is everything had been planned. Those chanting came to the game to spout hate speech. I doubt many of those involved had any connection to the world of sport. The reaction arrived late and was not sufficient."

Espanyol unhappy with 'smear campaign'

Meanwhile, Barca's La Liga rivals Espanyol, who play their home games at the RCDE Stadium, have issued their own statement condemning the scenes in Tuesday's game, but have also insisted that no blame should be attributed to their fanbase.

"RCD Espanyol also wish to express our deep displeasure at the gratuitous and widespread smear campaign that has been targeted against our fans in the past few hours," the statement read. "It is worth remembering that the match, organised by the RFEF, brought together supporters of the Spain national team from very diverse geographical and footballing backgrounds. Therefore, it is profoundly unfair, excessive, and disproportionate to attribute these behaviours to the RCDE Espanyol fanbase, which, throughout its more than 125-year history, has been characterised by its diversity, respect, and commitment to the values ​​of sport.

"The club do not and will not accept having their reputation called into question by the isolated actions of a small group of people who represent neither the club nor our fanbase. RCD Espanyol emphasise our firm commitment to the fight against all forms of discrimination, and will continue working to ensure that the RCDE Stadium remains a safe, inclusive, and respectful place for everyone."

Potential FIFA sanctions

A source has told ESPN that Spain could face potential FIFA sanctions, which could overshadow their 2026 World Cup campaign as they prepare to compete in Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay. The RFEF must now address these issues while prioritising Yamal’s welfare before the squad travels to North America for their opening fixtures.

- Adhe Makayasa

AGA KHAN: FIVE THINGS ABOUT PRINCE OF SPORT

Paris (AFP) – Apart from being an Islamic spiritual leader, the Aga Khan, who died on Tuesday aged 88, was a byword for the biggest and best in the world of horse racing.

The Aga Khan was a central pillar of the racing world since taking over from his father in 1960 © DOMINIQUE FAGET / AFP/File

He owned stables, stud farms and an auction house, his horses winning many of the great races across seven decades.

AFP look at five things about the Aga Khan's sporting world.

- Winter Olympian -

Before he got into racing, the Aga Khan was already a keen skier. "I like the atmosphere in ski racing," he said. "It is a democratic sport. One's name does not count."

The Aga Khan (L) training on the slopes of Val d'Isere with his ski instructor Hans Senger six years after his 1964 venture at the Innsbruck Winter Olympics © - / AFP/File

While too busy to focus full time on the slopes, he was good enough to train with the Austrian team. In 1962 he participated in the world championships at Chamonix as a member of the British team but two years later opted to compete at the Innsbruck Winter Olympics for Iran.

He finished 53rd out of 96 in the giant slalom and 59th out of 84 in the downhill. "It was respectable if not glorious," he said.

Bloodstock

With his grandfather having owned five Derby winners between 1930 and 1952, racing was certainly in the genes but it was not one of the young Aga Khan's passions.

That changed when he suddenly found himself the steward of the family's bloodstock empire when his father was killed in a car crash in Paris in May 1960, dual Classic winner Petite Etoile among the horses to fall to him.

The Aga Khan keeping an eye on the action at the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July 1961 © - / AFP/File

After some negotiating with his younger brother Amyn and his half-sister Yasmin, Rita Hayworth's daughter, he acquired their 60 percent interest in the stable at Chantilly.

Over the years he expanded to eight stud farms, four located in Ireland in County Kildare and four in Normandy. He also bought the French auction house Arqana in 2006.

"Thoroughbreds can be either a sportsman's hobby or a business," he said. "Where a large stable and a lot of money are involved, obviously racing is no longer a hobby."

His red and green colours became internationally famous, with the Aga Khan name-checked in Peter Sarstedt's 1969 hit song 'Where Do You Go to My Lovely'.

Winners

The Aga Khan amassed 168 Group One winners over the course of his time in racing.

He won the Epsom Derby five times, with Shergar in 1981 followed by Shahrastani, Kahyasi, Sinndar and Harzand.

The Aga Khan was a close friend of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the pair seen here talking after his horse Harzand won the 2016 Derby at Epsom © GLYN KIRK / AFP/File

He also won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the top race in France, four times, through Akiyda, Sinndar, Dalakhani and Zarkava.

Very close to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, he gave her several racehorses, including Estimate which gave her perhaps her most enjoyable win in the 2013 Ascot Gold Cup.

- Shergar -

Arguments can rage over which was the greatest of the Aga Khan's horses but there is no doubt about which is the most famous.

In 1981, the Michael Stoute-trained Shergar won five of his six races, including the 202nd Epsom Derby by 10 lengths -- still the biggest winning margin in the historic race -- as well as the Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

He was retired to the Aga Khan's Ballymany Stud in County Kildare in Ireland whence the four-year-old was kidnapped on February 8, 1983.

The £2 million ransom was not paid and Shergar was never seen again, believed to have been killed when negotiations stalled.

Suspicion fell on the Irish Republican Army which always denied the charge.

"Ireland was a very unhappy country at the time and I don't think you can hold the people of a country responsible for criminal behaviour," said the Aga Khan. "It is ethically wrong."

Yves Saint-Martin

The Aga Khan's horses attracted the very best jockeys. Walter Swinburn rode Shergar to success in the Derby while Johnny Murtagh steered Sinndar to a brilliant treble in 2000, winning the Derby, Irish Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the space of a few months.

The Aga Khan IV (R) with Yves Saint-Martin after his victory on Akiyda after their 1982 win at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe © Philippe BOUCHON / AFP/File

But French jockey Yves Saint-Martin is perhaps the name most closely associated with him.

He steered Akiyda to the 1982 Arc and also won four Prix du Jockey-Club, with Top Ville in 1979, Darshaan in 1984, Mouktar in 1985 and Natroun in 1987.

Doping

The Aga Khan fell foul of British racing when his filly, Aliysa, was disqualified from the 1989 Oaks after testing positive for camphor, a prohibited substance.

Harzand (L) ridden by Pat Smullen gave the Aga Khan his fifth Epsom Derby victory in 2016 © GLYN KIRK / AFP/File

He felt there were failings in the testing system and removed all of his horses, only ending his boycott at Royal Ascot in 1995. Another positive test in 2000 saw him withdraw his horses from Luca Cumani's stables in Newmarket.

He retained horses with Stoute but focused more on France. It was Irish trainer Dermot Weld who provided a fifth Derby and Irish Derby double in 2016 with Harzand, and the Aga Khan's last British Classic winner Ezeliya in 2024.

© 2025 AFP

THIERRY HENRY ON ISLAM

 

RAMADAN MUBARAK | MAX SPORTS

KHABIB IS NOT ASHAMED TO SHOW THAT HE IS MUSLIM | #MMA | #UFC

 

CONGRATULATIONS ISLAM | UFC CHAMP

 

MIKE TYSON & DJ KHALID PERFORM UMRAH IN MEKKAH (MECCA)

THE HAJJ | HAJJ GUIDE FOR MUSLIM | SPORTS & RELIGION

 

MUHAMMED ALI | "MAMA, WHY IS EVERYTHING WHITE?" | RACISM