FIFA investigates racist chants

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) opened a disciplinary investigation against the Spanish Football Federation, against the backdrop of anti-Muslim chants witnessed in the friendly match between the Spanish national team and its Egyptian counterpart.

The global website “ESBit” reported that Spanish fans chanted offensive phrases such as: “If you don’t jump, you are a Muslim,” during the match hosted by Espanyol Stadium in Barcelona, which sparked a widespread wave of condemnation.

The same source explained that FIFA reviewed the video recordings and reports of the match referee and the security observer, before deciding to open a disciplinary procedure that could lead to the imposition of financial fines or even partial or complete closure of the stands.

In the same context, the Catalan police launched an investigation into what they described as “Islamophobic and racist chants,” at a time when Spanish Federation President Rafael Lauzan and national team coach Luis de la Fuente condemned these behaviors.

For his part, Spanish national team star Lamine Yamal, of Moroccan origins, expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the incident, stressing on his Instagram account that such chants are disrespectful and unacceptable, calling for football to be made a space for enjoyment and encouragement away from racism or religious abuse.