FIFA Probes Spain FA After ‘Islamophobic’ Chants Mar Friendly Against Egypt

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Royal Spanish Football Federation following reports of “Islamophobic and xenophobic” chants during a recent international friendly between Spain national football team and Egypt national football team.

The match, held at RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, was overshadowed by crowd behaviour that prompted stadium officials to issue repeated warnings. Messages urging supporters to refrain from discriminatory chanting were displayed on the big screen before the incident recurred early in the second half, drawing whistles from sections of the crowd.

In a statement, FIFA confirmed it had initiated formal proceedings against the Spanish federation over the incidents, signaling potential sanctions depending on the outcome of its investigation.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation swiftly condemned the chants, describing them as unacceptable and reaffirming its commitment to combating racism and discrimination in football. Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente also denounced the behaviour, calling it “intolerable” and warning that “violent people use football to carve out a space for themselves.”

Spanish authorities have also taken action, with police launching a separate investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association labelled the chants a “repugnant act of racism,” while emphasizing that the actions of a minority of fans would not damage relations between the two federations.

The friendly itself ended in a 0-0 draw, a result that saw Spain relinquish their position at the top of the FIFA world rankings. However, the sporting outcome has been largely overshadowed by the controversy, which has reignited concerns about discrimination in football stadiums.

The case adds to ongoing efforts by FIFA and national associations to tackle racism and xenophobia in the sport. With Spain set to serve as one of the co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup, the spotlight is likely to intensify on how authorities address fan behaviour and uphold standards of inclusion.

FIFA’s disciplinary process is expected to examine match reports, video evidence, and witness accounts before determining whether sanctions will be imposed on the Spanish federation.