Albares condemns racist chants in Cornellà

The Diplomat Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has conveyed to his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelaty, his condemnation of the racist chants during the football match between the Spanish and Egyptian national teams, stating that they "do not represent Spanish society as a whole nor the values of sport." During the match, held on March 31 at the RCDE Stadium in Cornellà, a specific section of the stands began chanting "Anyone who doesn't jump is a Muslim." The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) requested over the stadium's PA system and on the video screens that the chants stop, but the group of fans continued shouting the same phrases. Additionally, some spectators booed the Egyptian national anthem before the match began. “I just spoke with my Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdellaty, about the war in Iran and its consequences in the Mediterranean and globally. I thanked him for Egypt's mediation in the fight against the war. We also discussed the critical situation in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon,” Albares wrote on social media this Sunday. “I conveyed my condemnation of the racist chants at the Spain-Egypt match, which do not represent Spanish society as a whole or the values of sport. Spain is a tolerant and pluralistic country that rejects racism and violence,” he added. On April 1, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on social media that the Cornellà incident “is unacceptable and must not be repeated.” “We cannot allow an uncivil minority to tarnish the reality of Spain, a pluralistic and tolerant country. The national football team and its fans are too. All my support to the athletes who suffered this and my applause to those who, with their respect, help us to be a better country,” he added.

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