FIFA has penalized the Royal Spanish Football Federation following discriminatory chants heard during a friendly match between Spain and Egypt, imposing a financial fine alongside a partial stadium closure for La Roja‘s next home friendly.
FIFA fined the Spanish FA $20,000 (exceeding €17,700) and ordered the senior men’s national team to hold its next home friendly with a crowd capacity reduced by 15% from the stadium’s total allowance.
The incident dates back to the March 31, 2026 fixture at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, which ended in a goalless draw, after a section of fans repeatedly chanted “Jump if you’re not Muslim” from the 20th minute onwards to mock the Egyptian team.
Organizers attempted to halt the chants via messages displayed on stadium screens and public address announcements during halftime. However, the chants drew sharp anger from Lamine Yamal, who emphasized after the match that directing them at the opposing team made them no less offensive to Muslims.
The Barcelona star stated at the time: “I know the chant was directed at the opposing team and not at me personally, but it remains offensive and unacceptable to me as a Muslim.”
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee concluded that fans used religious identity as a means of discrimination and mockery against the opponent, requiring the seat closures to be primarily implemented in the stands behind the two goals.
FIFA permitted the Spanish FA to fill the closed section with families, students, and anti-discrimination organizations, provided a detailed plan is submitted for approval 15 days prior to the match, with attendees allowed to wear shirts and display banners carrying educational messages.
The Spanish FA has decided to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), asserting that it acted immediately by enhancing security and issuing warnings until the chants ceased. The federation considers the partial closure excessive compared to past, more severe cases, leaving the sanction active pending a new ruling.
