flag
back Back
FIFA upholds punishment for anti-Muslim chants at Spain match
FIFA upholds punishment for anti-Muslim chants at Spain match
Spain's forward #19 Lamine Yamal celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Nations League league phase group A3 football match between Spain and Croatia at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville on September 29, 2026. Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP.

The FIFA Appeal Committee has rejected a Spanish appeal against punishment for racist chants during a friendly against Egypt in March, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced on Friday.

During the match against Egypt played at the Cornella, home of Espanyol, on March 31, part of the crowd chanted "whoever doesn't jump is Muslim".

On August 4, three weeks after Spain won the World Cup, FIFA's disciplinary committee imposed a fine of $20,000 (€17,800) and closure of at least 15 per cent of the stadium for Spain's next home friendly.

The RFEF reiterated on Friday that this misconduct "was detected by the Federation's own monitoring mechanisms" and that announcements urged the crowd to stop the chanting at half-time, during the second half and on the stadium video screens.

The RFEF said it had cooperated fully to help identify those responsible. It said it would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

One of Spain's starters during the match, forward Lamine Yamal who plays for Espanyol's local rivals Barcelona and was born in a suburb near the Cornella stadium, is Muslim. At the time he called the chants "a lack of respect and something intolerable".

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente also called the chants "intolerable".

"Violent individuals exploit football to carve out a space for themselves," he said after the match. "They must be removed from society, identified, and the further away the better."

The Egyptian Football Association issued a statement expressing its "total condemnation of the vile racist incident" by some spectators who "went beyond the limits".

You may like

David Silva says Barcelona wanted him before Manchester City move

mobile.nigeriasoccernet.com 7 hours ago

As Lionel Messi stands aside, we ask: Who is the best player in the world right now?

101greatgoals.com 1 week ago

There can only be one: Why Diego Maradona still tops Messi and Ronaldo for a generation of footba...

iol.co.za 5 days ago

The Players Who Have Received the Most Ballon d'Or Nominations

si.com 2 days ago

‘They want to destroy everything’ - Joan Laporta hits out at Real Madrid again

barcablaugranes.com 5 hours ago

Real Madrid consider January loan move for Endrick or Brahim Diaz

mobile.nigeriasoccernet.com 7 hours ago

Man Utd: Spanish media react to Giuliano Simeone display for Atletico Madrid v Espanyol

teamtalk.com 1 hour ago