Real Madrid stands firm against racism after Barcelona clash
Real Madrid has launched an investigation into the racist insults that occurred during Saturday's match against Barcelona, which ended with a 4-0 defeat for Los Blancos (0-0) at their home stadium as part of the 11th round of the Spanish LaLiga. Among those targeted by the insults was 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, one of the key players in the match.
Spanish media report that 17-year-old Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal was subjected to xenophobic and racist abuse at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. In response, the Madrid club issued a statement.
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 club's official statement reads.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga are taking steps to combat the growing issue of racist insults in stadiums, including implementing sanctions such as partially closing stands.
The Pride of Catalonia dominated Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening and crushed Los Blancos 4-0. No goals were scored in the first half, but after the break, Robert Lewandowski delivered two blows, earning himself the title of the match's hero. Following that, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha added to the goals, with Raphinha performing a magnificent trick to seal the result.
Last Thursday, four people were arrested in Spain on charges of conducting an online hate campaign.
This action aimed to encourage fans to engage in racist attacks against Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior before the match against Atletico Madrid last month. The scandal resonated worldwide, and the fans' behaviour disturbed the Brazilian player.
In June, the District Court in Valencia issued the first-ever sentencing in Spanish football history for racist abuse at a football stadium, highlighting the growing determination of authorities to tackle such behaviour. LaLiga and RFEF authorities are united in saying no to racism.
