FIFA Sanctions Spain Over Incidents in Friendly Match Against Egypt
FIFA imposes a fine on Spain and orders a partial stadium closure due to anti-Islamic chants.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced on Friday that it has imposed a $20,000 fine on Spain and ordered it to partially close its stadium for its next friendly match, following anti-Islamic chants by its fans on two occasions during a March match against Egypt.
The sanctions relate to incidents that occurred at the RCD stadium near Barcelona, the home ground of Espanyol, a La Liga club, after some Spanish supporters chanted “If you don’t jump, you’re Muslim” during a World Cup qualifier that ended in a goalless draw.
Spanish winger Lamine Yamal condemned the chants at the time, calling them disrespectful and intolerable, and described those responsible as “ignorant and racist.”
Spanish police opened an investigation the following day, and FIFA subsequently initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
The Spanish federation argued that “the word Muslim is not insulting or derogatory,” adding that the fans’ behavior should be assessed under Article 17 of FIFA regulations, which covers political, ideological, religious, or offensive messages, rather than Article 15, which addresses discrimination and racist abuse.
However, FIFA’s disciplinary body rejected this argument, stating that Article 15 does not require the explicit use of an offensive phrase, and that any term can be discriminatory when used in the context of “insult, ridicule, or a sign of inferiority.”
FIFA has fined the Royal Spanish Football Federation and ordered it to close at least 15 percent of the available seats for the national team’s next friendly match.
