Spain is tolerant, not racist, says Real Madrid coach Arbeloa

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said Friday (April 3, 2026) that Spain was a tolerant country and not racist, despite Islamophobic chanting during a national team match this week.

Sections of the crowd at Spain’s friendly against Egypt on Tuesday (April 7, 2026) sang “whoever doesn’t jump is Muslim” during the game at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium in Cornella.

Spain and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim, criticised those chanting as “ignorant and racist”. Arbeloa defended Spain while insisting racist attitudes should be eliminated.

“I think Spain is not a racist country, if it was we would have a problem every weekend at all of the stadiums,” Arbeloa told reporters. “I keep thinking we have to eradicate any racist attitude at stadiums, and in society… Spain as a country has to keep fighting to get rid of these attitudes.

“(However) I think we’re a great country, very tolerant, and with these kind of situations we shouldn’t generalise.” Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior has been racially abused at several stadiums across the country in high-profile incidents in recent years.

In January 2023, Atletico Madrid fans hung an effigy of Vinicius from a bridge near Real Madrid’s training ground.

Four months later Vinicius squared off with fans abusing him at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium, in an incident which gained him worldwide support in his battle against racism.

In 2025 five Real Valladolid fans, who racially abused Vinicius in a 2022 match, were found guilty by a court of committing a hate crime — the first such ruling in Spain regarding insults at a football stadium.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised teenager Yamal for making a “great statement” by condemning those responsible for the abuse. “We stand for inclusion it’s frustrating that a small number of idiots don’t understand this,” added Flick.

“We all want to be respected, it doesn’t matter about your colour, your religion, your region, it’s time to change these thoughts.” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said the problem was related to a lack of respect in the world. “It’s a social problem, on a world level, not about Spain or Argentina or Brazil or anywhere,” said the coach.

“Respect that was lost many years ago, respect for parents, school teachers, police, club directors, coaches, presidents today it’s been lost and we don’t have it.”

Catalonia’s regional police force said they were investigating the chants and Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said the incident was “unacceptable”. “We cannot allow an uncivil minority to tarnish the reality of Spain, a diverse and tolerant country,” he added.