MADRID: Real Madrid condemned racism from some of their supporters aimed at Barcelona players including teenager Lamine Yamal during the club’s 4-0 Clasico defeat on Saturday.
La Liga said they would report the incidents to Spanish authorities, while the government was also critical of the abuse.
“Real Madrid 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,” said Los Blancos in a statement Sunday.
Videos emerged on social media after the game of racial abuse aimed at Barcelona players including Yamal, with 17-year-old Spain star Yamal targeted during a goal celebration after becoming the youngest Clasico scorer.
The Spanish champions said they had “opened an investigation in order to locate and identify the perpetrators of these deplorable and despicable insults.”
“La Liga will immediately report the racist insults and gestures directed at Barcelona players to the hate crime unit of the national police,” said the Spanish top flight in a statement.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, who has often been the victim of racial abuse in Spain himself, offered his support to Yamal and other Barca players who were abused.
“It’s regrettable what happened yesterday at the Bernabeu with the racist insults,” wrote Vinicius on social media network X.
“There’s no space for these criminals in our society. All my support to Lamine, Ansu (Fati) and Raphinha.
“I know that Madrid and the police will work to identify and punish those guilty.”
The Spanish football federation expressed its “absolute condemnation” of the abuse.
Spain’s sports council (CSD) said their Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in sport would meet Monday to discuss the case.
“The Clasico is one of the greatest spectacles in the world, a true expression of the importance that football has in our country,” said the CSD in a statement.
“In it, as in any other sporting event, there can never be any room for expressions of violence, racism, xenophobia, hatred or intolerance.”
“Neither racism, nor insults, nor violence have a place in our country’s sport,” wrote Pilar Alegria, Spain’s minister for education, professional development and sports on X.
Elma Saiz, Spain’s minister for inclusion and migration, also offered support to Yamal.
“The racist insults aimed at Lamine Yamal in the Clasico are everything we in the government will fight against,” she wrote on X.
“We will not allow attacks that we do not tolerate in other spaces to become normalized in sport.”
Spanish football is struggling to combat racism in stadiums across the country.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius 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 June three Valencia supporters were sentenced to eight months in prison as a result.
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.
Real Madrid condemn racist abuse of Barca players in Clasico
https://arab.news/24baq
Real Madrid condemn racist abuse of Barca players in Clasico
- The Spanish football federation expressed its “absolute condemnation” of the abuse
Learning every day: Kuwait players reflect on DP World ILT20 season 4
- ‘To play alongside players like Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran and Jonny Bairstow is a very big moment for me,’ says Mohammed Shafeeq of MI Emirates
DUBAI: Season four of the DP World ILT20 marked a significant step in the league’s regional development efforts, with players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia earning selection at the first ever auction and featuring across all six franchises.
Each team acquired at least one player from the two countries, offering emerging cricketers the opportunity to train and compete alongside some of the world’s leading players.
The DP World ILT20 season four ended on Jan. 4, with the Desert Vipers overcoming the MI Emirates to secure their first title.
Speaking over the course of the tournament, the Kuwait players reflected on their experiences and the opportunity to work alongside established international cricketers.
Captain of the Kuwait cricket team, Mohamed Aslam, said: “It’s a great opportunity for me to represent Sharjah Warriorz in the DP World ILT20, and we are getting a lot of experience in the dressing room.
He said he was sharing the dressing room with “leaders like Tim Southee and Sikandar Raza. I have gotten a lot of information from them and learned many things by asking questions.
“As an associate cricket player, this is a very good opportunity. I hope to apply all of this in Kuwait and do our best.”
Mohammed Shafeeq became the first player from Kuwait or Saudi Arabia to feature in a DP World ILT20 fixture when he played for the MI Emirates against the Dubai Capitals.
“The support from the coaching staff has been amazing because this is a completely different feeling for us. It will help us in the future, as the coaches are always watching us and giving technical inputs.”
“It is a very big moment for me to be part of this team and to play alongside players like Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran and Jonny Bairstow,” he added.
“All of them are top players and operate at different levels. They consider us for every match, and that means a lot to me.”
The Dubai Capitals’ Anudeep Chenthamara said: “I would like to thank the Kuwait Cricket Board and DP World ILT20 for giving me this opportunity, it is a big one for me and the whole team.
“There has been a lot of experience and learning over here. We have worked with experienced players and coaches; I have been able to work on many things from the basics to the higher level. For example, I have changed the base of my run-up.”
Echoing these sentiments, the Gulf Giants’ Meet Bhavsar, who has played 73 T20Is for Kuwait, said: “It’s been a great experience to share the dressing room with the superstars of modern-day cricket.
“Facing somebody like Tabraiz Shamsi in the nets has been really challenging and helped me immensely. I will try to share as much as I can with the rest of the Kuwait team, and I am grateful for the chance to be here.”
Representing the Desert Vipers, Bilal Tahir said: “We are learning a lot every day. We have very good coaches, a great environment, and the style of teaching really helps us improve.
“Playing with these stars is a dream for us because they are legends, and we learn so much from them. Just the other day in the nets, Fakhar Zaman told me how to improve certain things. I am very thankful to the Desert Vipers for giving us this opportunity.”
Adnan Idrees, whose services were secured by the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, added: “It’s a great experience and I’m really enjoying my time here.
“Learning from legends is always a blessing, and sharing the dressing room with players like Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone makes me feel my game will improve a lot.
“I keep getting tips from them about staying focused on my game, and I’ve learned a lot already. They are gems as people and as cricketers, and it’s a joy to share the dressing room with them.
“I feel blessed to be part of the DP World ILT20 and hope more players get the chance to come here.”
