Barcelona’s Lamine says he has experienced racism ‘a thousand times’

Barcelona's young star Lamine Yamal has revealed that he has endured racist abuse on a staggering one thousand occasions throughout his burgeoning career. The 19-year-old forward, who has been accelerating up the ranks at the Catalan club, has been a frequent victim of racial slurs and demeaning behavior.

During an interview with Movistar, a prominent Spanish broadcaster, Lamine disclosed that many people are unaware that their comments or conduct constitute racism. The Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia's March bulletin highlighted that Lamine and teammate Vinicius Jr. were the most commonly targeted individuals for online racist abuse in Spain during the last quarter of 2025.

Lamine emphasized that while some remarks may be harmless, such as being called "Black," the issue arises when such language is intended to offend. He stated, "I'm Black and I'm not any other color," but added that the real problem lies in whether the racist behavior is meant to harm or not. Lamine maintains a composed demeanor when faced with such incidents, noting that if someone paid to attend a match, they should respect the player regardless of any perceived slight.

In light of these troubling statistics, LaLiga, the Spanish football league, has ramped up its efforts to curb racial abuse in stadiums following a series of high-profile incidents in recent years.