FIFA opens investigation into Spain for racist chants during match against Egypt

BarcelonaFIFA has opened a disciplinary proceeding against the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after the racist chants produced in the friendly match between Spain and Egypt last week at Espanyol's stadium. “FIFA has initiated today a disciplinary proceeding against the Spanish Football Federation for the incidents that occurred during 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 RFEF.

During the match, chants such as "Muslims who don't jump" were sung, there was booing of 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 next 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 the match report. The sanctions facing the RFEF range from a financial fine to the obligation to display anti-racism messages in subsequent matches. The Federation considers that the possibility of receiving a sanction that means playing matches without spectators is not feasible, but it is not an option entirely ruled out, as the anti-racism protocol was activated too late that day, as denounced by the Minister of Sports of the Generalitat, Berni Álvarez, who explained that he demanded that the RFEF representatives activate the protocol, as he saw that "strange things" were happening on the field, and hinted 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 the club in question can prove the absence of fault or negligence on their part," if "one or more supporters of a national team or a club" infringe "upon the dignity or integrity of a country, a person or a group of persons by using words or actions that are derogatory, discriminatory or abusive on grounds of race, skin colour, 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."

The RFEF is also concerned about the international image projected by the Spanish national team just as negotiations with FIFA are still underway for the venue of the 2030 World Cup. Spain wants it to be Madrid, but Morocco has also offered itself. The match against Egypt marked the return of the Spanish national team to Catalonia, which is why the Barcelona with the Selection platform 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 chant Islamophobic and racist slogans, as well as protests against Catalanism. The match ended goalless.