Real Madrid has condemned racism from some of their supporters aimed at FC Barcelona players including teenager Lamine Yamal during the club’s 0-4 defeat on Saturday in ‘El Clásico’.
Spanish media reported that 17-year-old Yamal, who is of Equatorial Guinean and Moroccan heritage, was targeted with xenophobic and racist abuse at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.
‘Real Madrid strongly condemns any kind of behaviour involving racism, xenophobia or violence in football and sport, and deeply regrets the insults that a few fans uttered last night in one of the corners of the stadium,’ the short statement said.
‘Real Madrid has opened an investigation in order to locate and identify the perpetrators of these deplorable and despicable insults so that the appropriate disciplinary and judicial measures can be taken,’ it concluded.
Videos emerged on social media after the game of racial abuse aimed at Barcelona players.
Spanish football is struggling to combat racism in stadiums across the country.
Real Madrid striker Vinícius Junior has become a figurehead in the fight against racism and has been targeted on numerous occasions since arriving in Spain in 2018. The Brazilian winger earned worldwide support in May 2023 when he squared off with Valencia supporters after suffering abuse at their Mestalla stadium.
In January 2023, an effigy in a Vinicius shirt was found hanging from a bridge near the club’s training ground alongside a banner saying: “Madrid hates Real”.
In December, four Atletico Madrid fans were charged over the incident, with prosecutors pushing for jail terms of four years. This week Spanish police arrested four men suspected of inciting an online hate campaign against Vinicius. ALSO READ: Four men arrested for alleged racist campaign targeting Real Madrid player Vinícius.
Real Madrid suffer 0-4 defeat at home in El Clásico
Robert Lewandowski scored twice and Lamine Yamal piled on to ruin Kylian Mbappé’s first clasico as Barcelona routed Real Madrid 4-0 on Saturday.
The lopsided victory in Spain’s capital ended the host’s unbeaten run in La Liga at 42 games, one shy of Barcelona’s record streak in 2017-18. Carlo Ancelotti’s side suffered its first loss since 23 September last year.
Lewandowski got the visitors going from a superb pass by Barcelona’s latest youth talent Marc Casadó in the 54th minute and rose up to head in a fine header three minutes later to silence Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Yamal made it a rout in the 77th when the teenager rifled a shot from an angle over goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. That goal made him the youngest scorer in a clasico at 17 years, 105 days, surpassing teammate Ansu Fati, who was about 250 days older in October 2020.
Raphinha then broke free with Madrid completely unhinged and chipped Lunin in the 84th.
The win came three days after Barcelona thumped Bayern Munich 4-1 in the Champions League. It has outscored its last five opponents 21-2.
ALSO READ: Coldplay teaming with Barça for next ‘El Clásico’ against Real Madrid.
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