Islamophobic chants mark the Spanish national team's return to Catalonia

Cornellá de LlobregatJoan García has debuted with the Spanish national team and has been in the stadium that until last June was his home, the RCDE Stadium. The Spanish men's national team has returned to Catalonia four years later in a friendly against Egypt (0-0). One of the great incentives of the match was to know if the azulgrana goalkeeper would debut or not with the absolute national team. The player from Sallent was left out of the call-up last Friday in Vila-real, but came on in the 62nd minute in Cornellà-El Prat with more applause than whistles —despite being whistled during the warm-up by some fans due to his past at Espanyol—. Luis de la Fuente was also whistled after not calling up Joan García when he was at the blanquiazul team. If he had been called up before signing for Barça, his release clause would have increased by five million more, up to thirty.

With a stadium packed to the rafters, who had been cheering on their team since before the match started, the first acts of disrespect were not long in coming. During the anthems, the Spanish fans booed Egypt's anthem, while they sang along to the Spanish one a cappella. When the first 10 minutes of the match had not yet passed, the entire stadium began to chant "Muslims, the ones who don't jump", ignoring, for example, that Lamine Yamal —the biggest star of the Spanish team— is Muslim and who was cheered when his name was announced over the PA system. A chant that minutes later was heard again on several occasions, the latter, however, being booed by some fans against those who were singing it.

The "Puigdemont to prison" and "Gibraltar is Spanish" chants were also heard in the early stages of the game. Neither were Pedro Sánchez, who was insulted, nor Javier Tebas, president of the football league, who was called to resign, spared. While Luis de la Fuente had asked for respect and for everyone to row in the same direction before the match, the fans present at the stadium ignored the coach, at a time when it is yet to be decided where the 2030 World Cup final will be played, whether in Spain, Portugal or Morocco. However, it was not until halftime —after a poor first half by Spain in which Marmoush hit the post for Egypt— when the video screens asked people not to engage in racist or offensive chanting. In the second half, when the chants were heard again, the message was immediately replayed.

No injuries at Barça

Lamine Yamal has been the only player to repeat in the starting lineup after playing on Friday against Serbia in Vila-real. The Rocafonda winger played 45 minutes, the same as Dani Olmo —a starter—, Pedri and Fermín —both substitutes—. Joan Garcia —who debuted with the Spanish national team— came on in the 62nd minute, the same moment Ferran Torres —who had several chances to score the first goal of the match— was substituted. Pau Cubarsí did not get any minutes in Cornellá. Good news for Hansi Flick, who gets all the Spanish internationals back without injuries. This was also the last match before Luis de la Fuente's final squad list, where Joan Garcia and Eric Garcia, among others, are some of the doubts yet to be resolved.