Three fans allegedly responsible for racist chanting towards Barcelona players during last month’s El Clasico have been arrested.
The Athletic previously reported that Real Madrid and La Liga had announced that they would take action after Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal was allegedly racially abused during the game against Real Madrid on October 26.
The Policia Nacional, the national civilian police force of Spain, have since confirmed that three people have been arrested following the alleged racist chanting.
A statement from La Liga read: “As a result of La Liga’s complaints about racist insults during El Clasico, the National Police have arrested three people for violating the dignity and moral integrity of two footballers.
“La Liga provided recordings provided by operators and an expert lip-reading report to confirm that those arrested had uttered the racist insults that were made public through social networks and the media.
“At La Liga, we continue to fight tirelessly to put an end to racism inside and outside football.”
La Liga has also reported that fellow Barcelona players Raphinha and Ansu Fati were also subject to racist abuse.
Videos on social media appeared to show the Spain international being subjected to racist abuse from Real Madrid fans in the stands at the Santiago Bernabeu while preparing to take a corner and after his goal. La Liga has said it will “request lip expertise on the reported images in order to identify the insults made” to Yamal, Raphinha and Fati.
In a video, a fan can be heard yelling “Go and sell tissues at traffic lights” while shouts calling him a “f***ing moor” (a racist term for a member of the Muslim community of North Africa, of mixed Arab and Amazigh descent) can be heard. Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, is from Morocco.
Barcelona, Real Madrid and La Liga all released statements denouncing the alleged racist abuse last month.
(Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
