FIFA fines Spain $20,000 over Islamophobic chants against Egypt

FIFA fined the Spanish Football Federation $20,000 and ordered Spain to close at least 15 percent of the seats at its next friendly after Islamophobic chants during the 0-0 draw against Egypt at Barcelona’s RCDE Stadium on March 31. Supporters chanted, “Who doesn’t jump is a Muslim”; Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called the chants “intolerable,” and winger Lamine Yamal condemned them as disrespectful and racist. FIFA rejected the federation’s argument that the word “Muslim” was not necessarily offensive, ruling that language can be discriminatory when used to mock a group or portray it as inferior. With FIFA’s approval, the closed sections may be used by groups working against discrimination, while Egypt’s football association condemned the chants but said they would not harm relations between the federations.