FIFA Upholds Spain’s Punishment for Anti-Muslim Chants in Stadium

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 18, 2026

FIFA’s Appeal Committee has rejected Spain’s challenge to sanctions imposed for racist chants made by some fans during a friendly match against Egypt in March, upholding a fine and partial stadium closure. The decision highlights the persistent issue of racism in football, with Spain’s federation planning to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport while continuing efforts to identify and punish offenders.

The FIFA Appeal Committee has upheld disciplinary measures against Spain following racist chants during a friendly match against Egypt in March, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced on October 16. Spain’s appeal challenging the sanctions was rejected.

The controversy arose during the March 31 match held at the Cornella stadium, home to Espanyol, when a segment of the crowd chanted “whoever doesn’t jump is Muslim.” This incident occurred just weeks before Spain’s World Cup victory.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee initially imposed a fine of US$20,000 and ordered that at least 15% of the stadium be closed for Spain’s next home friendly. The penalty was announced on August 4.

The RFEF stated that the chants were detected through the federation’s own monitoring systems. The federation said officials made repeated announcements over the stadium’s public address system at halftime and during the second half urging spectators to stop the offensive chants. Visual warnings were also displayed on stadium video screens. The federation emphasized its full cooperation with authorities to identify those responsible for the behavior and indicated it plans to appeal the ruling further at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Several key figures condemned the incident. Forward Lamine Yamal, a starter for Spain during the match and a Muslim who plays for Barcelona and was born near the Cornella stadium, described the chants as “a lack of respect and something intolerable.” Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente echoed this sentiment, labeling the chants “intolerable” and criticizing those responsible. “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 also issued a statement condemning the racist behavior, describing it as a “vile racist incident” by some spectators that exceeded acceptable limits.

The ruling underscores ongoing challenges in combatting racism in football stadiums, despite concerted efforts by national federations and international governing bodies.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.