Ilias Akhomach, Moroccan national team player and Villarreal midfielder, faced racist abuse following a league match against Barcelona.
The 20-year-old footballer was targeted on social media after a controversial play involving Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal during the 1-5 defeat.
Akhomach’s social media accounts were flooded with hateful comments, sparking outrage in Morocco, according to Spanish media reports.
Among the insults were racial slurs such as “Moro de mierda” and “You deserve the worst,” which further fueled anger in his home country.
The incident highlights ongoing issues with racism in football, with Akhomach now the latest victim of discriminatory attacks in Spain.
Akhoumach, who trained at Barcelona’s La Masia academy, had previously caused controversy by predicting Real Madrid would win the Champions League.
His challenge on Yamal in the match only intensified animosity from Barcelona fans, leading to an avalanche of racist comments online.
These racist remarks have raised concerns about fascism and discrimination faced by North African and Muslim players in European football.
Despite the abuse, Akhomach remains a key player for Villarreal under Marcelino García Toral, with a promising career ahead at just 20 years old.
Akhoumach, born on April 16, 2004, made his debut for Barcelona’s first team in Xavi Hernández’s first match as coach against Espanyol.
This disturbing incident puts the spotlight once again on racism in football, as calls for stricter measures grow louder in the wake of the attack.