Real Madrid face a likely sanction after FC Barcelona's Spain international winger Lamine Yamal was the victim of racist insults during his side's 4-0 thrashing
Videos on social media show the 17-year-old, whose mother is from Equatorial Guinea and whose father is from Morocco, receive various racist insults from a sector of Real Madrid fans as he celebrated scoring Barcelona's third goal in a 4-0 win in the 77th minute.
Ferland Mendy (L) of Real Madrid vies with Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona during the La Liga football match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Madrid, Spain, on Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
La Liga issued a statement on Sunday stating they would "immediately report the racist insults and gestures received by Barcelona players to the Hate Crimes Section of the National Police Information Brigade, as well as informing the Co-ordinating Prosecutor of the Hate Crimes and Discrimination unit of the State Attorney General's office."
The organization also "vehemently" condemned "the incidents at the Santiago Bernabeu and remains firm in its commitment to eradicate any kind of racist behavior and hatred inside and outside stadiums."
Spain's Superior Sports Committee (CSD) also issued a statement, saying the behavior was "unacceptable," and "far removed from the values of coexistence and respect inherent in sport, and whose eradication requires the work of everyone and, in particular, the collaboration of the clubs."
The CSD added that "the events that occurred during the course of this match will be analyzed by the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport."
This could result in Real Madrid receiving a fine and a possible closure of the section of the ground where the insults came from.
Real Madrid have been vocal in their condemnation of racism after their Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr has been the target of abuse on several occasions, and the club also posted a communique which "strongly condemns any kind of behavior 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 club said it was investigating to "locate and identify the perpetrators of these deplorable and despicable insults so that the appropriate disciplinary and judicial measures can be taken."
Vinicius has been the main focus of the battle against racism in Spanish grounds, but the player has so far failed to make any comments about the insults aimed at Yamal.
