Study Reveals Alarming Racism in Spanish Football

Study Reveals Alarming Racism in Spanish Football

A recent investigation by El País has shed light on the scale of racism and online abuse in Spanish football, revealing that Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal faces the highest volume of online attacks among all La Liga players.

The report, conducted by the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (Oberaxe), used artificial intelligence to analyze social media activity across Spain during the 2024–25 La Liga season. The study identified 33,438 instances of online hate, with 62% of the abuse originating from Facebook and 10% from X (formerly Twitter).

Yamal Faces Majority of Abuse

According to Oberaxe’s findings, Lamine Yamal was targeted in 60% of the reported online abuse, more than double the amount directed at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, who accounted for 29%.

Other players, including Kylian Mbappé, Alejandro Balde, Brahim Díaz, and Iñaki Williams, experienced significantly fewer incidents — receiving between 2–3% of the total recorded attacks.

The data underscores the disproportionate level of racial hostility aimed at young Black footballers in Spain, reigniting conversations around racism in La Liga and the adequacy of current safeguards for players.

Clubs Also Targeted with Hate Speech

The study also examined online hate directed toward clubs, finding that Real Madrid (34%) and Barcelona (32%) were the most frequent targets — accounting for 66% of all abusive messages. The remaining top six included Real Valladolid (17%), Valencia (8%), Athletic Club (6%), and Real Sociedad (6%).

Legal Progress and Landmark Rulings

In May 2025, Spain issued its first criminal ruling against racist abuse in football, sentencing five individuals to suspended prison terms for racially insulting Vinícius Júnior during a 2022 match against Real Valladolid.

La Liga described the verdict as “a historic milestone in the fight against racism”, noting that it marked the first time racial insults had been recognized as hate crimes under Spanish law — rather than as mere violations of moral integrity.

In a related development, Spain’s anti-violence commission recently proposed fines for a Real Oviedo supporter accused of racially abusing Marcus Rashford during Barcelona’s match on September 25, 2025. The league is pursuing legal action using social media evidence and stadium footage, reinforcing its commitment to combating discrimination.

The Fight Continues

As both Yamal and Rashford prepare to feature in Barcelona’s upcoming match against Celta Vigo, the issue of racism in football remains central to Spain’s sporting discourse. Meanwhile, Vinícius and Real Madrid are focused on recovery following their defeat to Liverpool, ahead of their clash with Rayo Vallecano.

The findings serve as a sobering reminder that despite recent legal advancements, systemic racism and online abuse remain entrenched in Spanish football culture, demanding continued vigilance from clubs, authorities, and fans alike.