Mossos open probe into anti-Muslim and xenophobic chants at Spain v Egypt friendly | OneFootball

Mossos d'Esquadra have opened an investigation into anti-Muslim and xenophobic chants heard during Spain's friendly against Egypt at RCDE Stadium, which included the chant 'musulmán el que no bote'.

El Periódico de Catalunya reports that investigators have begun proceedings under hate-crime and discrimination protocols and are reviewing security camera footage inside and outside the ground to identify where the chanting started and by whom.

Officers are working with the Spanish football federation and stadium security to map the affected area. They are also scanning social media for any prior instigation, so far without results. At this stage, they do not believe it was an organised group, although far-right linked accounts have been checked.

Catalonia’s sports minister Berni Álvarez and equality minister Eva Menor condemned the chants as unacceptable. Álvarez also criticised the delayed activation of protocols and said the response should have been more forceful over a serious episode.

The Spanish government’s delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, issued a strong denunciation, saying the match was shamefully tainted by racist chanting and that racism has no place. He added that organisers were told to activate the relevant protocols and that this occurred.

Source: Superdeporte