Lamine Yamal Reveals Scale of Racism He Has Faced During His Career
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has said he has faced racism “a thousand times” during his young career, describing how discrimination can appear through remarks and looks that others may not recognise as racist.
Yamal describes repeated experiences
- The 17-year-old, a Euro 2024 winner with Spain, was asked whether he had encountered racism directly or indirectly.
- Yamal replied that it had happened repeatedly, saying many people make racist comments or give racist looks without necessarily understanding the nature of their behaviour.
- He explained that his background has helped him avoid allowing such incidents to affect him, while stressing that racism can never be considered acceptable.
“Yes, a thousand times,” Yamal said. “I think people are indirectly racist towards you, but maybe they don’t even realise it. There are a lot of comments and, many times, a lot of looks that are racist, and people don’t realise it.”
Bernabeu incident and support for Raphinha
Yamal also addressed abuse directed at Barcelona players during El Clasico matches at the Santiago Bernabeu. He referred to footage involving Raphinha, when his family defended the Brazilian winger after supporters targeted him in Madrid.
The Barcelona forward said people had been surprised by his response in the video, but added that the use of the word “black” does not itself upset him because it describes who he is. For Yamal, the issue is the intention behind the language and whether it is used to demean or offend.
“Someone calling me ‘black’ is not going to bother me,” he said. “I’m Black, I’m not another colour. It is different if they say it specifically to insult me. Then it is wrong.”
Refusing to give abuse influence
Yamal said he tries not to let abusive supporters dictate his emotions during a match. His view is that he will not allow a fan’s misconduct to distract him from playing, even if that supporter has paid to enter the stadium and watch him.
“I am not going to be playing a match, knowing that he paid for a ticket to come and watch me, and get angry because he disrespected me,” Yamal said.
His remarks arrive amid continued scrutiny of racist abuse in La Liga. Vinicius Junior has been among the players calling for stronger sanctions and broader action following a series of incidents in Spanish football. Yamal’s comments underline another aspect of the issue: recognising discriminatory behaviour while refusing to let those responsible take control of his performance or identity.
