FIFA Opens Disciplinary Proceedings Against Spain After Islamophobic Chants in Egypt Match

FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against the Royal Spanish Football Federation on April 7, 2026, following Islamophobic and xenophobic chants during a friendly match between Spain and Egypt on March 31 at the RCDE Stadium in Cornellà, near Barcelona. Fans in a section of the ground repeatedly chanted "whoever doesn't jump is a Muslim," beginning around the 20th minute of the match, which ended in a goalless draw. The global football body confirmed the proceedings in an official statement, saying it had "opened disciplinary proceedings today against the Spanish FA for the incidents in the friendly against Egypt." Referee Georgi Kabakov recorded the incidents in his match report, which was subsequently submitted to the FIFA disciplinary committee. Under current FIFA rules, sanctions for discrimination can include fines, matches played behind closed doors, or games with reduced stadium capacity, particularly when incidents are not isolated. Spanish police had already launched a separate investigation into the chants the previous week, and Catalan authorities also opened their own inquiry.

Chants began at 20th minute, spread beyond 'La Curva' The chants originated in a corner section of the RCDE Stadium where the organized Espanyol supporters group known as La Curva is normally located, according to reports. The chanting was also preceded by whistling during the Egyptian national anthem before kickoff. The RFEF used the stadium's public address system and giant screens at halftime to request that the chants stop, but the appeals did not achieve the desired effect in that section of the stands. The behavior then spread to small groups of fans in other parts of the ground. The Egyptian Football Association condemned the chants as a "repugnant act of racism," describing them as entirely unacceptable, while adding that the actions of a small group of spectators would not affect the close relations between the two federations. The RFEF also posted a condemnation on social media, stating: "The RFEF joins the message of our football against racism and condemns any act of violence in stadiums."

Yamal, Sánchez, and Louzán all condemn the incident Spain winger Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim and played in the match, denounced the behavior in an Instagram post, describing it as "an intolerable lack of respect" and stating that it did not matter that he was not personally targeted. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned what he called an "unacceptable" episode and blamed an "uncivil minority" of supporters for tarnishing the country's image. Minister of Justice Félix Bolaños described the occurrence as "a disgrace for society" and, alongside the Catalan regional minister for sport, Berni Alvarez, pointed the finger at far-right fan groups. RFEF President Rafael Louzán lamented and condemned the events, arguing that "this type of behavior" must be condemned and that "football must be an example of coexistence and, above all, respect." Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa addressed the broader question of racism in Spanish football, saying he does not believe Spain is a tolerant country that is not racist.

„If it was [racist], we would have a problem every weekend at all of the stadiums” — Álvaro Arbeloa via Al Jazeera Online

The incident drew widespread national indignation and added pressure on Spanish football authorities ahead of a major international hosting commitment.

Spain co-hosts 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco The episode carries particular weight given that Spain is set to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco — a country whose population is overwhelmingly Muslim — making the Islamophobic nature of the chants especially sensitive for the tournament's organizers and diplomatic relationships. Both Spain and Egypt had already qualified for the 2026 World Cup at the time of the friendly. The Al Jazeera report noted that the incident is the latest in a string of similar episodes to overshadow Spanish football in recent years, with Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior having been repeatedly racially abused. Despite legal convictions in some cases, only a portion of such incidents have resulted in sanctions, according to Franceinfo. The FIFA disciplinary proceedings now place the RFEF at risk of financial penalties and potential restrictions on how future matches are staged.

Racism in Spanish football stadiums has been a recurring issue for years. Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior became a prominent symbol of the fight against discrimination after suffering repeated racial abuse since his arrival in Madrid in 2018. Spanish courts have handed down convictions in some cases, though many incidents have not led to formal sanctions. The 2030 World Cup is set to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with Spain's federation president stating the country will host the final.