Spain have been fined and ordered to partially close the stadium hosting their next international friendly after Islamophobic chanting was heard during a match against Egypt earlier this year.
A section of Spain fans chanted "the one who doesn't jump is a Muslim" during the friendly in Barcelona on Mar. 31. Anti-discrimination messages were displayed on the big screens, and announcements at half time urged fans to stop the chants.
The Spanish federation (RFEF) sought to have the disciplinary process thrown out, arguing in part that the word Muslim is the accepted term for a follower of Islam. FIFA's disciplinary committee rejected this, concluding the chants "clearly use religious identity as a means of distinguishing and discriminating against the opposing side." It said a reasonable and objective observer would see the word "Muslim" used in this context "as a marker of exclusion and ridicule."
The RFEF has been fined $20,000 (£15,000) and ordered to close 15% of the stadium for its next men's senior team friendly, or fill that percentage of seats with community or special interest groups such as families, students and anti-discrimination organisations, subject to FIFA's approval. Spain star Lamine Yamal said at the time that he found the chants "intolerable" as a Muslim himself, adding: "Football is to be enjoyed and encouraged, not to disrespect people for who they are or what they believe in."
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing