Spanish Police Arrest Three Over Racist Insults During El Clasico

MADRID, Nov 23 — Spanish police have arrested three individuals for allegedly directing racist insults at two Barcelona players during the October El Clasico match against Real Madrid, authorities confirmed on Saturday.

The incident occurred at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, where Barcelona triumphed 4-0 over their arch-rivals. Among those targeted by the abuse was Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, who is of Equatorial Guinean and Moroccan descent. Yamal, one of the standout performers of the match, was also a scorer in the dominant victory.

The arrests come as part of an ongoing effort by Spanish authorities to combat racism in football, with such incidents on the rise in recent years. The individuals, whose identities have not been disclosed, are accused of chanting xenophobic and racially charged remarks aimed at Yamal and his teammate during the high-profile match.

The Spanish Football Federation and La Liga have faced increasing pressure to take stronger action against racism in the sport, and these arrests signal a commitment to addressing the issue more aggressively. Football clubs, players, and fans alike have been calling for greater accountability and stricter measures to prevent such behavior in the future.

The match, which saw Barcelona secure a commanding win, was overshadowed by the disgraceful abuse directed at the players, sparking widespread condemnation across Spain and beyond.

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