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FIFA has started taking disciplinary action against the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) over Islamophobic and xenophobic chants during a World Cup friendly between Spain and Egypt last week, the sport’s world governing body confirmed on Tuesday.
On March 31, at the RCDE Stadium near Barcelona, Spanish supporters chanted, “Who doesn’t jump is a Muslim,” during the match that ended in a goalless draw, according to Reuters.
“FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish soccer federation for the incidents in the friendly against Egypt,” a spokesperson from the governing body confirmed to American sports broadcaster ESPN.
18-year-old winger Lamine Yamal, who helped them win UEFA Euro 2024 two years ago, condemned the chants as “disrespectful and intolerable” in an Instagram post. RFEF president Rafael Louzán and Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente both condemned the incident.
ESPN reported that a branch of Barcelona’s local police, the Mossos, has launched an investigation into the slogans.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) also condemned the chants as “a completely unacceptable and repugnant act of racism.” The EFA also said that the actions of a small number of spectators would not affect the close relations between the two countries’ federations.
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