Spanish Police Detain Three for Racist Chants in El Clásico

Spanish police have detained three individuals accused of directing racist chants at players during a match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. The incident occurred last month at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, during a high-stakes game often referred to as «El Clásico,» which saw Barcelona triumph with a 4-0 victory.

The National Police of Spain provided a statement on Saturday, confirming they have gathered evidence implicating the individuals in using racist insults aimed at two players during the match. Although the police declined to officially identify the victims, local media reports suggest that the offensive chants were directed at Barcelona forwards Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.

Real Madrid had promptly condemned the racial abuse and pledged to assist in identifying those responsible. Such behavior at football matches, particularly involving racial abuse towards players, has increasingly become a focal point of concern within Spanish football. The sport’s governing bodies, clubs, and various organizations have been actively seeking to address and eradicate racism from the game.

Notably, Vinícius Júnior, a prominent Real Madrid player, has been a frequent target of racial attacks. Earlier, in September, Javier Tebas, the president of LaLiga, had emphasized the league’s commitment to combat racism. «LaLiga will persist in this fight to the very end,» Tebas stated at the time.

Meanwhile, many, including the afflicted players and clubs, have expressed hope that such measures will minimize the occurrences of these derogatory acts. In a social media post on Brazil’s Black Consciousness Day, Vinícius Júnior acknowledged that his struggles with racist abuse have lessened thanks to the collective efforts of clubs and individuals dedicated to fighting against racism.

The arrests come after a significant lapse of nearly a month since the incident, during which Real Madrid also declared intentions to identify the offending supporters. Lamine Yamal, who was reportedly subjected to the abuse, has chosen to maintain a low profile, issuing minimal public statements regarding the matter.