Lamine Yamal opens up about racism and abuse in football

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has spoken openly about his experiences with racism, revealing that he has encountered discriminatory behavior on numerous occasions during his young football career. 

The Spain international said he refuses to allow racist comments to affect his emotions or performances on the pitch.

Speaking in an interview with Movistar Plus, Yamal explained that racism often appears indirectly through comments and gestures that people may not recognize as discriminatory. 

The teenager said he had experienced such treatment “a thousand times” but maintained that prejudice was something that could never be accepted.

The 17-year-old also reflected on incidents involving Barcelona players at the Santiago Bernabéu, including abuse directed at his teammate Raphinha. 

Yamal recalled a viral video in which his family defended the Brazilian winger during a match in Madrid.

Addressing the use of racial insults, Yamal said he was not personally affected when someone referred to him as Black, since it was a description of his identity. 

“Yes, a thousand times. I think people are indirectly racist towards you, but maybe they don’t even realize it. There are a lot of comments and, many times, a lot of looks that are racist, and people don’t realize it. I also come from a place where it’s not that you accept it, because something that is wrong can never be accepted, but it doesn’t bother you.” He said.

However, he stressed that using the term with the intention of causing offense was unacceptable.

Yamal also explained that he tries not to give Frankfurt Maluze set for long term absence with thigh injury – Football 

Eintracht Frankfurt have confirmed that 21-year-old central defender Jeremiaha Maluze will be sidelined until further notice after sustaining a muscle injury.

The young defender is expected to miss at least this weekend’s Bundesliga fixture against SC Freiburg, with his return date still unclear.

Maluze picked up the thigh problem during Eintracht’s impressive 3-1 away victory over 1. FSV Mainz 05 last Saturday. 

Despite the injury, he showed remarkable resilience by completing the full 90 minutes against their rivals. 

His contribution was not limited to defensive duties; the defender also provided an assist for the second goal, underlining his growing importance to the side.

The club issued an official statement this afternoon confirming the extent of the issue and wishing Maluze a swift recovery. 

Medical staff will continue to monitor his progress in the coming days, but no precise timeline for his return has been given.

The absence creates a selection dilemma for head coach Adi Hütter ahead of the visit of SC Freiburg. 

Frankfurt have recently operated with a back three in a 3-4-2-1 system, in which Maluze has featured. 

Hütter must now decide whether to stick with that formation and hand an opportunity to Otavio, or revert to a more traditional 4-2-3-1 setup that would require adjustments elsewhere in the defensive line.

Maluze’s ability to play through discomfort and still influence the attacking phase highlights the maturity he has shown this season.

At just 21, he has already established himself as a reliable option in the heart of defence, making his temporary absence a notable setback for the squad.

Fans and teammates will be hoping the recovery process is smooth and that the young defender can return to full fitness sooner rather than later. 

In the meantime, Hütter and his staff face the task of covering his absence while maintaining the momentum generated by the win in Mainz.