Racist Chants and Political Insults Mar Spain's Friendly Football Match Against Egypt

Racist chants targeting Muslims and the whistling of the Egyptian national anthem marred Spain's friendly football match against Egypt at the RCDE Stadium in Cornellà, Catalonia, on March 31, 2026, casting a shadow over what had been billed as a festive occasion. The match marked the Spanish national team's first appearance in Catalonia in four years, drawing more than 35,000 spectators to the stadium on the outskirts of Barcelona. The chant "He who doesn't jump is a Muslim" was clearly audible from one section of the stands on multiple occasions during the game. A Federation delegate approached the fourth official to evaluate possible next steps under the applicable anti-racism framework, should the incidents be repeated.

Political insults joined racist chants before halftime The racist slogans were not the only troubling element of the evening. Before the match even began, a portion of the crowd whistled during the Egyptian national anthem, setting a hostile tone. Within the first half hour of play, political chants had also broken out, including "Puigdemont to prison" — a reference to Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan politician and President of Together for Catalonia who remains a fugitive from Spanish justice — and crude insults directed at Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The family and festive atmosphere that had characterized the pre-match period deteriorated as the minutes passed, according to reporting by El Periódico. The Federation delegate's consultation with the fourth official indicated that match officials were actively monitoring the situation for potential escalation.

FIFA's three-step protocol loomed over the proceedings The FIFA anti-racism protocol, approved in May 2024, set the legal and procedural backdrop for the officials' deliberations. The protocol mandates a "zero tolerance" stance across all 211 federations affiliated with the governing body. It operates on a sequential three-step basis: first, stopping the match; second, temporarily suspending it; and third, abandoning it entirely if incidents persist. The protocol also includes a universal gesture — crossed arms — for players and officials to use in denouncing racist behavior on the pitch. The fact that a Federation delegate felt compelled to consult with the fourth official before halftime underlined the seriousness with which the incidents were being treated. 211 (federations) — FIFA member federations bound by anti-racism protocol

The RCDE Stadium, formally known as Estadi Cornellà-El Prat, is located on the outskirts of Cornellà de Llobregat and El Prat de Llobregat in the wider Barcelona urban area, and serves as the home ground of RCD Espanyol. Spain's return to Catalonia for this fixture came after a four-year absence from the region, making the match a politically and symbolically charged event. Catalonia has a long history of complex relations with the Spanish central government, and football matches involving the national team have at times served as flashpoints for political expression. The FIFA anti-racism protocol referenced by officials was adopted in May 2024 as a binding framework for all member associations.

Incident highlights recurring tensions at national team fixtures The events at the RCDE Stadium placed Spain's football authorities in a difficult position, balancing the celebration of the national team's return to Catalonia against the conduct of a segment of the crowd. The RCDE Stadium hosted more than 35,000 fans for the friendly, a figure that underscores the scale of the event and the breadth of the audience exposed to the chants. The incidents involving the Egyptian anthem and the Muslim-targeting slogan drew particular concern given the international dimension of a friendly match involving a visiting national team. The Federation delegate's early intervention signaled an awareness that the protocol's first step — stopping the match — could become necessary if behavior continued. No confirmed information is available from the source articles on whether the match was ultimately stopped or suspended under the protocol's provisions.