Spain handed stadium ban over fans’ anti-Muslim chants

Spain has been handed a partial stadium ban after FIFA sanctioned the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for discriminatory, anti-Muslim chanting by fans during a match against Egypt on March 31.

The sanction was imposed by FIFA after fans were heard chanting around the 10th minute of the first half and again at the start of the second half at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona.

An anti-discrimination warning was displayed on the stadium screens during the match and repeated early in the second half, prompting whistles from sections of the crowd.

FIFA subsequently opened disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) over what it described as “Islamophobic and xenophobic” chants.

The RFEF condemned the anti-Muslim chants following the incident, while Spain coach Luis de la Fuente described them as “intolerable.”

“Violent people use football to carve out a space for themselves,” De la Fuente said.

However, in its written submission to FIFA, the RFEF argued that the chants did not constitute discriminatory conduct. FIFA’s disciplinary committee rejected the argument, noting that the federation could not “persuasively maintain both that the chant was entirely harmless and that it warranted activation of anti-discrimination measures”.

Under the sanction, Spain must play their next international friendly with 15 percent of the stadium closed to spectators. FIFA may, however, approve the use of the affected seats for community or special-interest groups, including families, students, and anti-discrimination organisations.

The closure must be implemented primarily in the stands behind the goals. Spain have also been fined $20,000 (£15,000) by FIFA.

Spain’s next potential international friendly is scheduled for June. However, if they qualify for the Nations League finals, the stadium sanction will be postponed until an available date during the Euro 2028 qualifying campaign next autumn.

Following the 0-0 draw, the Egyptian Football Association condemned the chants as an unacceptable “repugnant act of racism”. It added that the actions of a small group of supporters would not affect the close relationship between the Spanish and Egyptian football federations.