Al-Hilali on Anti-Muslim Chants in Egypt-Spain Match: 'Yamal Chose Spain Over Morocco, Deserves Respect'

T.E (Elbotola)

10 April 2026at11:29

Moroccan international Omar El Hilali, a player for Espanyol, addressed the chants described as racist during the friendly match between Egypt and Spain, expressing his absolute rejection of any offense targeting the Islamic religion.

El Hilali gave an interview to the Spanish newspaper "La Vanguardia," stating: "I say this because I am Muslim, but certainly no Christian would like the same thing to happen to them. Real Madrid has Muslim players, and some fans repeat these chants."

He continued: "Firstly, this is a lack of respect for the players themselves. Imagine if the chant 'The Christian who doesn't jump' was repeated; they certainly wouldn't like it either. I didn't like it when I heard it in the Spain vs. Egypt match because of the Muslim players on the field."

El Hilali added: "One of the best players, who is supposed to lead you to win the World Cup, is Muslim. Lamine Yamal chose to represent Spain despite being able to play for Morocco, and the least he deserves is respect."

Regarding his approach to the month of Ramadan, he said: "This year was very good. I have been fasting since I was 14 or 15 years old. Some matches were harder than others, such as the Mallorca match we played at 2 PM."

Concerning his future with Espanyol, he commented: "We haven't talked about anything, but I want to continue. The first thing I want is to secure our stay [in the league] and for everyone to be calm because we need stability."

Q&A

What did Omar El Hilali say about the anti-Muslim chants during the Egypt-Spain match?

Omar El Hilali, an Espanyol player, strongly condemned the anti-Muslim chants heard during the Egypt-Spain friendly. He expressed absolute rejection of any offense targeting the Islamic religion, emphasizing the lack of respect for players on the field.

Why did Omar El Hilali highlight Lamine Yamal in his comments on the chants?

Omar El Hilali highlighted Lamine Yamal to underscore the disrespect shown. Yamal, a top player, chose to represent Spain despite his Moroccan heritage, and El Hilali believes he deserves respect, not religious offense, especially as a key team member.

What is Omar El Hilali's broader message about religious respect in football?

Omar El Hilali's broader message advocates for universal respect in football, stating no one would like similar chants targeting their own religion. He believes such actions demonstrate a fundamental lack of respect for all players, regardless of their faith.

RCD Espanyol de Barcelona