The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has expressed full support for Moroccan international Omar El Hilali after he was subjected to racist abuse during Espanyol’s 26th La Liga match against Elche.
The FRMF condemned “all forms of racism or discrimination, both inside and outside stadiums” and called for tolerance and fair play in football.
The Espanyol defender Omar El Hilali said the Elche forward Rafa Mir insulted him during their teams’ La Liga game on Sunday, according to the referee’s report.
The referee, Iosu Galech Apezteguia, paused the match in the 80th minute under the league’s anti-racism protocol. According to his report, El Hilali told him Mir said: “You came here on a dinghy.”
The match was stopped for three minutes.
Omar El Hilali a été victime d’𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗦 et s’est plaint auprès de l’arbitre de propos tenus par Rafa Mir. 🇪🇸😳
Rafa Mir doit être suspendu.
𝗖’𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘.
— ᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴀᴋʜᴀʙ ғᴏᴏᴛ 🇲🇦 (@MountakhabFoot) March 1, 2026
Racism in Spanish Football
Racism in La Liga has shifted from isolated incidents to a wider institutional problem. High-profile cases have forced Spanish football authorities to take stronger action.
Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior became a symbol of the fight against racism. In May 2023, a match against Valencia was halted after he identified fans racially abusing him. This led to the first prison sentences for racist insults in a Spanish stadium in June 2024.
Other players have faced similar abuse. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal was targeted during a 2024 El Clásico. Athletic Bilbao’s Inaki Williams took legal action after being abused in a match against Espanyol. Valencia’s Mouctar Diakhaby famously walked off the pitch in 2021 after a racial slur.
Rule Changes and Protocols
La Liga has introduced new rules. Referees can now suspend or abandon matches using a three-step FIFA protocol. A “no racism” gesture allows players and officials to signal for a stop to play. High-risk matches are now monitored more closely to prevent known troublemakers from entering stadiums.
Internationally, Brazil has passed strong laws against racial abuse in sport. Prison sentences, stadium bans, and a three-step match suspension protocol are now in place.
FIFA is also considering rules to prevent players from covering their mouths to hide insults.
