FIFA fines Spain $20,000 for Islamophobic chants, orders stadium seat closure

FIFA has fined the Spanish Football Federation $20,000 and ordered it to close at least 15 percent of the seats in its next friendly match after fans chanted Islamophobic slogans during a goalless draw with Egypt on March 31 at Barcelona’s RCDE Stadium. The chant, "Who doesn’t jump is a Muslim," was deemed discriminatory by FIFA’s disciplinary committee, which rejected the Spanish federation’s argument that the word was not inherently offensive.

The sanction affects Spain’s upcoming fixtures; the restricted areas will mainly be behind the goals, though FIFA may allow community groups working against discrimination to occupy those seats with approval. The Spanish federation must also pay the fine, and its head coach Luis de la Fuente and winger Lamine Yamal condemned the chants as intolerable and disrespectful, while Egypt’s football association called the incident a repugnant act of racism but said it would not harm bilateral ties.

Will you speak up against discriminatory chants in stadiums you attend, support anti‑racism initiatives in football, or demand stricter enforcement from your local clubs and associations?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/16/fifa-fines-spain-20000-over-islamophobic-chants-against-egypt/