Jewish community urges Spanish FA to crack down on antisemitic and anti-Muslim chants at the Bernabéu

The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) has called on the Royal Spanish Football Federation to take a clear and forceful stand after a group of young Real Madrid supporters chanted antisemitic and anti-Muslim slogans outside the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. The incident unfolded ahead of a Champions League fixture against Inter Milan, and the Jewish organization has written to RFEF president Rafael Louzán to demand an institutional response that matches the seriousness of what happened.

• The FCJE denounces chants including "Jew I see, Jew I kick" and "Spain is Christian and not Muslim."
• The organization describes the episode as one of "extraordinary gravity."
• The letter stresses that these actions do not represent the Real Madrid fan base as a whole.
• The Jewish federation offers to work with the RFEF to prevent further acts of intolerance in football.
• The document is signed by FCJE president David Obadía Chocrón.

What chants were reported outside the Bernabéu

According to the letter, a small group of young fans chanted slogans including "Jew I see, Jew I kick" and "Spain is Christian and not Muslim" before the match against Inter Milan. The first expression is viewed by the organization that officially represents Spanish Jews as an openly antisemitic call that directly encourages violence against Jewish people.

The second chant, the FCJE argues, sends a message of exclusion toward Muslim citizens living in Spain on the grounds of their religion or cultural background. For the federation, both expressions are incompatible with the values that should govern sport and with coexistence in a democratic society.

Jewish federation demands a firm stance from the Spanish FA

"We are fully aware that these behaviors do not represent the Real Madrid fan base as a whole," the letter states before calling for a "clear and forceful" response.

Even though the incident took place during a European competition match, the FCJE believes the RFEF has the authority to speak out publicly against this kind of behavior. The organization also wants Spanish football's governing body to push clubs toward adopting measures that prevent new episodes of intolerance in and around their stadiums.

The move comes at a time when European football is reviewing its protocols against discrimination. The Champions League has specific rules to punish racist, antisemitic or xenophobic conduct, and clubs can face penalties ranging from financial fines to the partial or total closure of their venues.

Real Madrid's role after chants by a reduced group of fans

Real Madrid, as the host club for the match against Inter Milan, finds itself linked to an episode carried out by a small number of supporters outside the stadium. The FCJE has been careful not to extend responsibility to the entire Madrid fan base, something the letter makes clear when it states that these isolated actions do not define the club's supporters.

However, the Jewish organization's demand is directed at the RFEF rather than at the club itself. The federation argues that Spanish football's governing body must take a leadership role in the fight against antisemitism and other forms of hate in the sport. In its letter, the FCJE proposes opening a channel of cooperation to take part in educational campaigns within football.

Antisemitism and Islamophobia on the rise in European stadiums

Incidents involving radical supporters are not unique to Spanish football. In recent years, bodies such as UEFA and the European Union have warned about the growing number of antisemitic, Islamophobic and racist episodes connected to club and national team matches. Chants in the stands or outside stadiums have become a platform for fringe groups seeking visibility.

The typical response from federations and clubs involves opening information files, identifying those responsible and applying sanctions that range from stadium bans to competition suspensions if the events are considered particularly serious. The FCJE wants the RFEF to go beyond a generic condemnation in this case and activate concrete prevention mechanisms.

What comes next after the Jewish community's letter to the RFEF

The letter signed by David Obadía Chocrón puts the RFEF in a position where it must decide between issuing a simple institutional statement or opening a process that leads to tangible measures. The FCJE has offered its experience and resources to collaborate on awareness programs against antisemitism and any other form of intolerance in sport, an offer that could translate into educational agreements with clubs in Spain's top divisions.

The fact that the complaint comes from an institution that officially represents the Jewish community in Spain gives the episode a relevance that goes beyond the sporting arena. The RFEF's response will be watched not only in Spain but also by international organizations dedicated to defending human rights and fighting hate.