FIFA opens a case against Spain for racist chants during the match against Egypt

BarcelonaFIFA has opened a disciplinary file against the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after the racist chants produced in the friendly match between Spain and Egypt last week at the Espanyol stadium. “FIFA has today initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Federation for the incidents that occurred in the friendly match against Egypt,” can be read in a statement. This is a preliminary step by the body that controls world football to decide on the sanctions imposed on the Spanish Federation.

During the match, chants such as "Muslims who don't jump" were heard, as well as booing the visiting team's anthem and insults against politicians such as Carles Puigdemont and Pedro Sánchez. Barça player Lamine Yamal was particularly affected by the chants, as he is Muslim. The following day, the Barça footballer posted on social media criticizing those who had uttered these chants.

The referee of the match, after being informed by two delegates present on the field, reported this fact in his match report. The sanctions facing the RFEF range from a financial fine to the obligation to carry anti-racism messages in subsequent matches. The Spanish Federation considers that the possibility of receiving a sanction that means playing matches in the future without spectators is not feasible, but it is not an option entirely ruled out since the anti-racism protocol was activated too late, as denounced by the Minister of Sports of the Generalitat, Berni Álvarez. The minister explained that he demanded that Federation representatives activate the protocol, as he saw "strange things" happening on the field, implying that those responsible for initiating the chants could be politicized groups present on the field.

According to FIFA's Disciplinary Code, in cases like this, fines can be imposed "even if the member association or club in question can demonstrate the absence of fault or negligence on their part," if "one or more supporters of a national team or a club" infringe "the dignity or integrity of a country, a person or a group of people by using words or actions that are derogatory, discriminatory or abusive on grounds of race, skin color, ethnic origin, nationality or social origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, purchasing power, place of birth or any other status or reason."

At the RFEF, there is also concern about the international image projected by state football just as negotiations with FIFA are still underway regarding the venue for the 2030 World Cup. Spain wants it to be in Madrid, but Morocco has also offered to host it in its territory. The match marked the return of the Spanish national team to Catalonia, which is why the platform "Barcelona with the national team" mobilized to try to create a good atmosphere. The result, however, was the presence of many people, some from outside Catalonia, who took advantage of the match to start Islamophobic and racist chants, in addition to uttering chants against Catalanism. The match ended goalless.