Lamine Yamal Recalls Racist Abuse at the Bernabéu: "Being Called Black Won't Bother Me, I'm Black"

Lamine Yamal has once again put the spotlight on racism in Spanish football. In the latest preview of his conversation with Jorge Valdano for Movistar Plus' 'Universo Valdano' program, the FC Barcelona winger revisited the racist insults he endured at the Santiago Bernabéu during the Clásico in October 2024 and defended, with a maturity unusual for a 17-year-old, the way he handled that verbal attack. The full interview airs on Friday, April 18 at 9:00 p.m.

• Lamine Yamal says he has experienced racism "1,000 times" in Spain, often indirectly through looks and comments.
• The forward recalled the abuse he and Raphinha suffered at the Bernabéu during the October 2024 Clásico and explained his calm response.
• LaLiga reported the incident to the National Police and sanctioned a minor with a one-year stadium ban and 30 hours of socio-educational tasks.
• Lamine Yamal doubled down on his Ballon d'Or candidacy and named himself and Mbappé as the two best players in the world.

Lamine Yamal's answer to Jorge Valdano about racism

Jorge Valdano asked him directly whether he had ever experienced racism in an explicit way. Lamine Yamal's response left no room for doubt: "Yes, 1,000 times." The Spain international explained that many of those situations are not obvious attacks, but everyday attitudes that go unnoticed even by those responsible for them: "People are indirectly racist towards you, but maybe they don't realize it. Many comments, many looks... they are racist and they don't realize it."

The player raised in Rocafonda, a neighborhood in Mataró, added a telling nuance about how he copes with these situations. He explained that growing up in a diverse environment has given him the tools to avoid being affected by insults: "I've also come from a place where it's not that it's accepted, because what is wrong can never be accepted, but it doesn't bother you."

What happened at the Bernabéu Clásico in October 2024

During the Clásico played at the Santiago Bernabéu in October 2024, a section of the stadium hurled racist insults at Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. A video of that moment went viral and captured phrases such as "Fucking black!", "Fucking Moor!" and "Piece of shit!" aimed at the Spanish forward after he scored. The footage also showed Lamine Yamal's calm reaction, as he remained focused on the match without responding to the provocation.

Months after the incident, LaLiga confirmed it had reported the events to the National Police. The competition imposed a one-year stadium ban and 30 hours of socio-educational tasks on the underage individual identified as the author of the abuse. LaLiga president Javier Tebas stood by the measure as a demonstration of the organization's commitment to fighting racism and all forms of hate in football.

Why Lamine Yamal did not get angry at the Bernabéu

Regarding his reaction that night, Lamine Yamal was very clear. The Barça winger explained that being called black does not affect him because it is a reality he accepts naturally: "In the end, that person calling me black won't bother me at all, I am black, I am not any other color, another thing is whether it is right or wrong because he says it in a contemptuous way."

It's wrong, but what I'm not going to do, playing a match where he has paid for a ticket to watch me, is get angry because of one person who has disrespected me.

The Barcelona academy graduate insisted that his priority at that moment was the game and not giving attention to someone trying to provoke him from the stands. His composure was interpreted by many fans as a maturity beyond his years and sparked a debate about the normalization of racism in Spanish stadiums.

LaLiga and the sanction on the minor who abused Lamine Yamal

LaLiga activated its anti-racism protocol after the events at the Bernabéu and forwarded the complaint to the National Police. The identification of the person responsible for the insults led to an exemplary sanction: a one-year ban from all Spanish football stadiums and 30 hours of socio-educational tasks focused on raising awareness against discrimination.

This type of penalty is part of the strategy LaLiga has been implementing in recent seasons to eradicate racist episodes from football grounds. In recent years there have been several similar complaints, especially against players like Vinícius Júnior, and the league has increased institutional pressure with measures combining financial punishment, stadium bans and mandatory education for offenders.

The Ballon d'Or and the rivalry with Mbappé, Lamine Yamal's other headlines

The conversation with Jorge Valdano was not limited to racism. In an earlier excerpt released by Movistar Plus, Lamine Yamal had already generated intense debate with a bold statement: "I think I deserve the Ballon d'Or for what I've won." The Barcelona forward explained that he would give it "to the best player in the world" and pointed out that, in his view, only two candidates stand above the rest.

"For me, Mbappé and I are the two best players in the world. For me it's clear, and everyone who watches the matches knows it," said the Spanish international. Lamine Yamal's season —Euro 2024 champion with Spain and a key piece of Hansi Flick's Barcelona— backs his candidacy for the award handed out in the autumn in Paris.