El Hilali: "What Happened in Egypt-Spain Match Was Disrespectful"

Moroccan Omar El Hilali, an Espanyol player, spoke about the racist chants that accompanied the match between the Spanish national team and Egypt, emphasizing his absolute rejection of any form of racism in stadiums.

In an interview with "Sport" newspaper, El Hilali said: "It's very difficult because there are many fans and you are focused on the match. But if I were in Lamine Yamal's place, it would certainly bother me. I believe these chants should never happen, and those responsible must be held accountable; they are a minority."

He continued: "Those chants are regrettable, whether against Muslims, Christians, or any religion. I believe this constitutes a lack of respect for a religion followed by a large number of people, and I repeat, it is a lack of respect for any religion in the world."

The player added: "I have always believed, from my personal experience, that Spain is not a racist country, despite some isolated incidents. The actions of a minority cannot be generalized to an entire nation."

El Hilali also noted that he has previously been subjected to racist incidents in Spanish stadiums, expressing his confidence that everything will be resolved legally: "Until a 100% decision is made, I cannot comment further."

The player affirmed that mutual respect between players and fans is the foundation of football: "Ultimately, we are human beings before we are players. We must respect each other, because without respect, football has no value."