Controversy is growing around alleged discriminatory chants attributed to a group of Real Madrid supporters near the Santiago Bernabéu before the club’s Champions League meeting with Inter Milan.
The incident has prompted a strong response from the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE), which has called for a firm response from Spanish football authorities.
In a letter addressed to Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzán Abal, FCJE president David Obadía Chocrón expressed his “deep concern” and “firm rejection” of chants allegedly directed at Jewish and Muslim people.
Among the slogans cited in the letter were “Jew I see, Jew I trample” and “Spain is Christian, not Muslim.”
The FCJE described the alleged chants as being of “exceptional seriousness”, arguing that the first constitutes an openly antisemitic expression that could encourage violence against Jewish people, while the second conveys what it considers an exclusionary message towards Spain’s Muslim citizens.
Call for firm action
The Jewish communities’ federation stressed that the alleged behaviour should not be interpreted as representing Real Madrid supporters as a whole.
However, it called on football authorities to respond clearly and firmly to discriminatory behaviour around football grounds.
The FCJE also urged the RFEF to use its influence with clubs to encourage stronger measures against antisemitic, Islamophobic and other discriminatory conduct, both inside stadiums and in their surrounding areas.
The organisation said it was ready to cooperate with football authorities and other stakeholders on initiatives aimed at combating antisemitism, Islamophobia and intolerance in sport.
Growing focus on discrimination in football
The controversy comes amid increasing scrutiny of hate speech and discriminatory behaviour within Spanish football.
Authorities and football organisations have faced growing pressure to tackle racist, religious and other forms of abuse associated with matches and supporter groups.
For the FCJE, the latest incident highlights the need for football to remain a space where discrimination and incitement to hatred are firmly rejected.
The federation’s intervention now places further pressure on Spanish football authorities and clubs to address the alleged chants and reinforce measures designed to prevent similar incidents from being repeated around football stadiums.
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