FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Royal Spanish Football Federation following anti-Muslim chants by fans during an international friendly between the Spain national team and the Egyptian national team.
The incident happened on March 31 at the RCDE Stadium, where sections of the crowd were heard chanting “musulmán el que no bote” (“whoever doesn’t jump is a Muslim”) during the 0-0 World Cup warm-up match.
Stadium officials tried to intervene during the game, with announcements and messages on big screens reminding supporters that discriminatory behavior was prohibited. However, the chants reportedly continued despite those warnings.
FIFA confirmed on April 7 that it had reviewed reports from match officials before opening formal proceedings. The Spanish federation could face sanctions ranging from significant fines to partial stadium closures, depending on the outcome of the investigation.
From @TheAthleticFC: FIFA has opened proceedings against the Spanish FA after anti-Muslim chants were heard at Spain’s home game against Egypt last week. https://t.co/5oLV3amxRA
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 7, 2026
The incident drew strong reactions across Spanish football and beyond. Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim, condemned the chants as “disrespectful” and “intolerable,” while Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente expressed “total rejection” of the behavior.
In parallel, Catalan police (Mossos d’Esquadra) have launched an investigation, now being handled by prosecutors specializing in hate crimes and discrimination.
The Egyptian Football Association condemned the chants as a “repugnant act,” while emphasizing that the actions of a small group of fans should not affect relations between the two federations.
This latest episode adds to ongoing scrutiny of discriminatory behavior in Spanish football, with FIFA’s case expected to set an important precedent as the sport moves closer to the 2026 World Cup.
Read also: Spanish-Moroccan Sports Journalist Files Racism Complaint After Online Threats
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