FIFA has announced a $20,000 fine for Spain and a partial stadium closure for its next match, after its fans chanted anti-Islamic slogans during a game against Egypt.
The sanctions relate to incidents that occurred at the RCDE Stadium near Barcelona, the home ground of Espanyol, a Spanish first division club, after some Spanish fans chanted "He who does not jump is a Muslim" during a 2026 World Cup warm-up match between Spain and Egypt that ended in a goalless draw last March.
After the chant was repeated a second time, the stadium announcer issued a warning and the scoreboard displayed a message condemning the discriminatory behavior.
Spanish national team star Lamine Jamal, a Muslim of Moroccan origin, condemned the chants at the time, saying they were disrespectful and intolerable, and describing those responsible as "ignorant and racist".
The Spanish police opened an investigation the following day, while FIFA later initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Federation.
The Spanish federation argued that "the word Muslim is not offensive and does not demean anyone," adding that the behavior of fans should be assessed under Article 17 of the FIFA regulations, which covers political, ideological, religious or offensive messages, rather than Article 15, which deals with discrimination and racial abuse.
But FIFA's disciplinary committee rejected this argument, saying that Article 15 does not require the explicit use of an offensive term, and that any term can be discriminatory when used in the context of "insult, ridicule, or a sign of inferiority."
FIFA imposed a fine on the Spanish Football Federation and ordered it to close at least 15 percent of the available seats at the national team's next friendly match.
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