Barcelona’s Spanish forward Lamine Yamal provoked chants from the home fans during the game against Egypt.
Published April 7, 2026
FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, has launched disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Federation after anti-Muslim chants were heard during the recent match between Spain and Egypt.
During an international friendly match on March 31, some fans at Barcelona’s RCDE Stadium shouted, “Those who don’t jump are Muslims.”
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“FIFA has today initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Association over the events during the friendly match against Egypt,” FIFA said in a statement on Tuesday.
It is the latest in a series of similar incidents that have cast a shadow over Spanish football in recent years, with Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior in particular being repeatedly subjected to racial abuse.
Last week, Spanish police announced they were investigating “Islamophobic and xenophobic” chants, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the “unacceptable” incident, insisting that “an uncivil minority” will not be allowed to tarnish the country.
The Spanish Football Federation also condemned the chants, and Muslim Spanish forward Lamine Yamal, who played in the match, denounced a “lack of respect” by “ignorant and racist” people.
Barcelona star Yamal added that he found the chants disrespectful and intolerable, and said it didn’t matter that he was not targeted.
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa has said he believes Spain is a tolerant country and not racist.
“If there was (racism) there would be problems every weekend in every stadium,” the Spaniard told reporters about his homeland.
