(The Turkish Post) – FIFA has fined the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) $20,000 and ordered a partial stadium closure for Spain’s next friendly over Islamophobic chants by fans during the team’s match against Egypt in March, world football’s governing body said on Oct. 16.
The punishment comes three months after Spain won the World Cup. The country is due to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Morocco.
FIFA sanctions over the Islamophobic chants
Under the ruling, Spain must close at least 15% of the available seats at its next friendly, mainly in the sections behind the goals. Subject to FIFA approval, the federation may instead fill those seats with community or special-interest groups.
The chants were heard at the RCDE Stadium near Barcelona, home of the La Liga club Espanyol, on March 31. The World Cup warm-up match against Egypt ended 0-0.
Some Spain supporters twice chanted “Who doesn’t jump is a Muslim,” according to FIFA. After the second occurrence, the stadium announcer issued a warning and the scoreboard displayed a message against discriminatory behavior.
Spanish federation’s defense rejected by FIFA
During the proceedings, the RFEF argued that the word “Muslim” was “neither insulting nor pejorative.” It said the fans’ conduct should be judged under Article 17 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which covers political, ideological, religious or offensive messages, rather than Article 15, which deals with discrimination and racist abuse.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee rejected that argument. It found that Article 15 does not require the explicit use of a slur and that a term can be discriminatory when it is used in context as “an insult, taunt, or marker of inferiority.”
The federation did not immediately comment on the decision.
Reactions in Spain and Egypt to the chants
The Islamophobic chants drew condemnation in Spain after the match. The RFEF said on social media that it “stands against racism in football and condemns any act of violence inside stadiums.”
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called the behavior intolerable and said violent people were using football to carve out a space for themselves. Government ministers also denounced the chants, and Catalonia’s regional police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, opened an investigation into what they described as Islamophobic and xenophobic chanting.
Spain winger Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim and played in the match, wrote on social media that the chants had been aimed at the opposing team and not at him personally, but that they were still a lack of respect and intolerable. He said those who mock a religion in a stadium show themselves to be “ignorant and racist.”
The Egyptian Football Association called the chanting unacceptable and urged stronger action to prevent similar incidents. It also criticized the lack of respect shown to Egypt’s national anthem, which was jeered by part of the crowd. The association said the actions of a minority would not damage its relations with the Spanish federation.
FIFA proceedings opened in April
FIFA opened its case on April 7, saying in a short statement that it had “opened disciplinary proceedings today against the Spanish FA for the incidents in the friendly against Egypt.” The disciplinary committee took more than six months to rule on the Islamophobic chants.
Spanish football has faced repeated racism cases in recent years. The most prominent involved Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, who has been racially abused at several stadiums in the country.
Spain went on to win the World Cup in North America, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute, giving Spain its second world title after 2010.
FIFA did not name the match to which the partial closure of Spain’s stadium will apply.
