This week, Spanish football has been shaken by another incident of racist abuse in its stadiums. During a friendly match between Spain and Egypt, a number of fans were heard directing Islamophobic chants at the visiting team, an act that has been condemned appropriately.
Lamine Yamal, the young player who is a Muslim, condemned the actions of those chanting, expressing his disgust at the situation. While steps are being taken by authorities, this incident may impact Spain’s bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
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It had been anticipated that Spain would host the final of the 2030 World Cup, with venues like Real Madrid’s Bernabeu and Barcelona’s Spotify Camp Nou being top contenders. However, Moroccan media outlet Goud (via Cadena SER) reports that Morocco may now have a stronger chance to secure hosting rights.
“Numerous racist incidents have been witnessed in Spanish stadiums. There are concerns regarding the ability of Spanish institutions to address this issue during matches. Muslims in Spain continue to face racism in these venues. Interestingly, the standout player on the Spanish national team is a Muslim of Moroccan descent (Lamine Yamal).”
FIFA “aware of everything” happening in Spain
Additionally, Goud claims that FIFA is “aware of everything” occurring in Spain concerning racism in football, which might give Morocco an advantage in its aspirations to be the first African country to host a World Cup final since South Africa in 2010. They highlight that “in Morocco’s stadiums, incidents of racism are neither present nor as severe”.
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It is still uncertain what repercussions Spain might face regarding the 2030 World Cup following these recent events, but it is evident that urgent measures are required to eliminate such incidents once and for all.