Former Liverpool and Mali midfielder Mohamed Sissoko has said Lamine Yamal should be having doubts about ever playing for Spain again, following “Islamophobic and xenophobic” chants heard during the first half of the 2010 World Cup champions’ 0-0 draw with Egypt in Barcelona on Tuesday.
At half-time a message warning fans against xenophobic remarks and singing was displayed on the screen at the RCDE Stadium, with the stadium announcer reading out a similar request, BBC Sport reports.
The message was repeated early in the second half, leading to whistles from some sections of the crowd.
Yamal issued a strong statement condemning the “disrespectful” and “intolerable” situation.
Commenting on the incident, Sissoko said the chants were a “disgrace” and believe that if he were in Yamal’s shoes he would be having rethink concerning his international career.
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“It pains me that a figure like Lamine had to go through that. The image Spain has projected is not the one I know. It’s a disgrace. Lamine didn’t deserve what he went through,” he said.
“He chose to play for Spain; he could have chosen to play for Morocco. But he chose Spain, and Spain now has one of the best players in the world.
“Yet he had to endure what he went through in that match. It’s neither fair nor logical. It was deplorable. If I were Lamine, I would think twice about ever playing for Spain again, to be honest.”
Meanwhile, Spanish police are now investigating what happened during the match, while the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have also condemned the chants.
