The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has issued a strong condemnation of the racist abuse directed at its national team during Tuesday’s international friendly against Spain at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona.
In an official statement released today, the EFA denounced the behavior of a number of spectators in the stands who were observed chanting racist expressions and slogans. The Association also condemned the lack of respect shown toward the Egyptian national anthem, describing the actions as entirely unacceptable and a negative phenomenon that must be collectively eradicated from football stadiums.
Despite the incident, the EFA expressed its high appreciation for the swift statements of rejection and condemnation issued by the Spanish Football Federation, the Spanish Ministry of Sport, and various officials and football figures across Spain. The governing body acknowledged the solidarity shown by their Spanish counterparts in denouncing the events.
On the pitch, the Egyptian team delivered a strong performance, standing as a worthy opponent to the hosts in a match that served as crucial preparation for the FIFA World Cup.
The EFA confirmed that Engineer Hany Abo Rida, President of the Association, is leveraging his international capacity to work alongside FIFA officials and all relevant stakeholders and international institutions. The goal, the Association stated, is to prevent such offensive incidents from occurring in football stadiums.
“What happened is completely unacceptable,” the statement read, reaffirming FIFA’s commitment to combating racism and discrimination in football. The EFA stressed the importance of preventing any recurrence of such incidents and working diligently to eliminate this phenomenon altogether.
Crucially, the Egyptian FA emphasized that the actions of a minority of fans at the Espanyol Stadium will not affect the strong and longstanding relationship between the Egyptian and Spanish Football Associations. The EFA noted the warm reception of the Egyptian delegation in Barcelona and the full support and facilitation provided throughout their stay.
In a final gesture of goodwill, the EFA reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to welcoming representatives of Spanish football, as well as all friendly nations, to a land of civilization, hospitality, and peace.