In the glittering sky of Spanish football, 17 - year - old Lamine Yamal is undoubtedly a dazzling rising star. This talented forward from Barcelona has quickly emerged in the football world with his outstanding skills. He is not only a key player in Barcelona's first team but also represented the Spanish national team in the 2024 European Cup. He played a crucial role in the team's championship - winning campaign, contributing 1 goal and 4 assists, and was named the best young player of the tournament.
However, Yamal's football journey has not been smooth. Unfortunately, he has become the center of racism and xenophobic criticism. In the El Clásico in October 2024, when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 4 - 0 away, after Yamal scored the third goal in the 77th minute, he was racially abused by some Real Madrid fans while celebrating in front of the goal line at the Bernabéu Stadium. Videos circulating on social media clearly recorded these ugly words, including derogatory terms such as "black x" and "mixed - race x". This is not an isolated case. In other matches, Yamal has also faced similar racist attacks. For example, in the 11th round of La Liga, after he scored a goal, there were fans in the stands who hurled racist abuse at him. Insults such as "damn black", "damn Moroccan", and "go sell tissues at the traffic light" were heard.
In addition to the racism on the pitch, there have also been inappropriate remarks in the media. A commentator from Spanish TV station Movistar, Germán Burgos, made a derogatory comment about Yamal on air. When Yamal was doing keep - ups on the screen, Burgos said, "If football doesn't work out for him, he'll end up at a traffic light." This comment was considered racist by many viewers. Although Burgos later apologized on the show, this incident further exacerbated Yamal's difficult situation.
What's more, against the background of the increase in hate speech and racial attacks on the Muslim community in Spain during Ramadan, Yamal has become a target due to his religious beliefs and African - descent. Some people have launched racial attacks on him using "explicitly aggressive language", and even suggested expelling him from the national team and the country.
These racist and xenophobic acts have triggered a strong response from all sides. La Liga officially issued a statement strongly condemning such incidents and stating that it will take a tough stance and report racist insults and gestures to the relevant departments. The Spanish Sports Council also condemned the incident, emphasizing that any form of violence, racism, etc. will not be tolerated in important events like El Clásico. Real Madrid Club also issued a statement expressing regret for racism and initiating an investigation process to identify the perpetrators and take disciplinary and legal measures.
Yamal's story is not just about his personal experience but also reflects the deep - seated problems in Spanish society. His father is from Morocco and his mother is from Equatorial Guinea. He represents the new multicultural society in Spain. With the decline in the birth rate and the increase in immigration in Spain, the demographic structure and political landscape are changing. Yamal has become a representative figure of this change and has thus become the target of some people's discomfort and resistance to immigration and multiculturalism. Simon Chadwick, a scholar specializing in sports and geopolitical economy, said, "Yamal is indeed a pioneer of the new generation of Spaniards, but there is still a certain degree of discomfort with some of the changes taking place."
In the Spanish football world, the problem of racism has a long history. Previously, Real Madrid's Brazilian player Vinícius had been racially attacked many times. Although the relevant Spanish institutions have been working hard to combat racism, for example, on June 10, 2023, the racist abuse incident in a Spanish football match was convicted for the first time due to a direct complaint filed by La Liga with the court. Three involved persons were sentenced to imprisonment and banned from entering the stadium to watch games. However, there is still a long way to go for Spain to completely eliminate racism and xenophobia.
Despite the shadow of racism, Lamine Yamal still firmly shows his strength and grace on the football field. He uses his efforts and achievements to fight back against discrimination and prejudice. His existence allows people to see the vitality and potential of Spanish multiculturalism and also draws more attention to the problem of racism in Spanish society. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of all parties, Spain can soon eliminate the shadow of racism and make football a truly united and inclusive sport.
