FIFA orders partial stadium closure for Spain over anti-Muslim chants
FIFA has ordered Spain to partially close its stadium for its next home friendly after supporters directed anti-Muslim chants during a match against Egypt, the world football governing body said. The FIFA Spain stadium closure is the latest use of the governing body’s anti-discrimination sanctions.
The FIFA Spain stadium closure will see at least 15 per cent of the available seats remain closed, primarily in the stands behind the goals. The world football governing body also fined the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) $20,000.
Subject to FIFA’s approval, the federation may allocate the affected seats to community or special-interest groups, including families, students and anti-discrimination organisations. Any proposed plan must include visible anti-discrimination measures and be submitted to FIFA at least 15 days before the match.
What happened at the Egypt friendly
The sanction stems from Spain’s goalless friendly against Egypt on March 31 at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona. During the first half and shortly after the second half began, a group of Spanish supporters resorted to discriminatory chants targeting Muslims.
An anti-discrimination warning appeared on the stadium screen, while an announcement urged supporters to stop the chants. The warning was repeated early in the second half, prompting whistles from some sections of the crowd.
FIFA subsequently opened disciplinary proceedings over what it described as Islamophobic and xenophobic conduct.
The RFEF argued that the chant did not constitute discrimination and that the word “Muslim” was not inherently insulting. FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee rejected the argument, finding that words not offensive in isolation could become discriminatory when used to ridicule or demean a religious identity.
The committee said the federation could not “persuasively maintain both that the chant was entirely harmless and that it warranted activation of anti-discrimination measures.”
FIFA Spain stadium closure: reactions and what comes next
Following the match, the RFEF denounced the chants. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente described the incident as “intolerable,” saying violent individuals were using football as a platform. Spanish winger Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim, also condemned the chants, saying that using religion as a taunt was disrespectful and racist.
The Egyptian Football Association called the chants a “repugnant act of racism,” stressing that the conduct of a small group would not damage relations between the two national federations.
FIFA acknowledged that Spanish officials had introduced preventive measures, cooperated with match authorities, publicly condemned the incident and sought to identify those involved. Those mitigating steps, however, did not spare the federation the sanction.
The sanction applies only to Spain’s next home friendly, not a competitive fixture. Its implementation could be delayed depending on Spain’s Nations League and Euro 2028 qualifying schedule.
FIFA has used partial stadium closures as a standard disciplinary tool against discriminatory conduct by supporters. The measure targets the offending sections while letting federations redirect the closed seats toward community and anti-discrimination groups, a route the RFEF can now take if it submits an approved plan in time. The sanction lands as FIFA’s own governance faces scrutiny, with a formal challenge to the FIFA presidency filed earlier this month.
Spain’s national team has a large Muslim following of its own, and the condemnation from Yamal, one of the squad’s biggest stars, underlined how seriously the dressing room took the episode. Pakistan’s own football scene keeps growing, from our women’s team coverage to the Pakistan–India football rivalry and the national side’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
The original reporting on this development was published by The Express Tribune.
FAQ
What punishment did FIFA give Spain?
FIFA ordered at least 15 per cent of seats closed for Spain’s next home friendly, mainly behind the goals, and fined the RFEF $20,000 over anti-Muslim chants by supporters.
When did the chants happen?
During Spain’s goalless friendly against Egypt on March 31 at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, in the first half and shortly after the second half began.
How did Spanish players react?
Coach Luis de la Fuente called the incident intolerable, winger Lamine Yamal condemned the chants as disrespectful and racist, and the RFEF denounced them after the match.
