MADRID: The Spanish government, La Liga and Real Madrid reacted sharply on Sunday after racist insults were allegedly made against Barcelona players during Saturday’s match at the Bernabeu stadium.

Spanish media reported that Barcelona striker Lamine Yamal, 17, of Equatorial Guinean and Moroccan origin, was among the players targeted with xenophobic and racist abuse during the Clasico. Barcelona beat arch-rivals Real 4-0, with Yamal among the scorers.

Spain’s Supreme Sports Council (CSD) condemned the incidents and announced that it would meet on Monday to discuss the matter.

The National Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport, the CSD, the Police and Civil Guard, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), LaLiga and the State Public Prosecutor’s Office.

“LaLiga will immediately report the racist insults and gestures received by Barcelona players to the hate crimes section of the National Police Information Brigade, as well as to the coordinating prosecutor of the hate crimes unit and discrimination from the state attorney general’s office,” LaLiga said. in a statement.

“LaLiga vehemently condemns the incidents at the Santiago Bernabeu and remains firm in its commitment to eradicating all forms of racist behavior and hatred inside and outside the stadiums.”

INVESTIGATION ON REAL MADRID

Real Madrid said it has opened an investigation to identify the perpetrators so action can be taken.

“Real Madrid strongly condemns any type of behavior involving racism, xenophobia or violence in football and sport, and deeply regrets the insults that some supporters uttered last night in one of the corners of the stadium,” the club said in a statement.

Barcelona did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Spanish Migration Minister Elma Saiz also condemned the incident.

“We will not allow attacks that we do not tolerate in other spaces to become normalized in sport,” she said in a statement.

The RFEF said it had a zero-tolerance policy towards abuse and racist violence in stadiums, calling it a “social scourge”.

“The RFEF will work with all people and institutions that are part of sport and society to put an end to violence and insults in sporting venues and events,” the RFEF said.

The RFEF and La Liga have taken measures to combat the increase in racist abuse, including partially closing stadiums.

Four people were arrested and questioned in Spain on Thursday on suspicion of carrying out an online hate campaign encouraging fans to racially insult Real Madrid striker Vinicius Jr. in the build-up to the match against Atletico Madrid last month.

In June, the Valencia Court of First Instance handed down the first conviction for racist insults at a football stadium in Spain, following an investigation into racist insults directed at Vinicius at the Mastella stadium.

Vinicius, who has become a prominent figure in the fight against racism in Spain and world football after suffering multiple racist abuses over the past two years, showed his support for the Barcelona players.

“There is no place for these criminals in our society,” he said of the attackers. “I know that Madrid and the police will do things to identify and punish the culprits.”