Police, FIFA probe anti-Muslim chants at Spain-Egypt friendly

FIFA Reviews Racist Chanting During Spain-Egypt Friendly as Police Open Investigation

Anti-Muslim chants by Spanish fans during a pre-World Cup friendly between Spain and Egypt on Tuesday marred what was meant to be a routine warm-up match, prompting investigations by local police and a review by FIFA that could result in sanctions against the Spanish national team.

“Disrespectful and Intolerable”

The match, held at RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, ended in a 0-0 draw but was overshadowed by repeated Islamophobic chanting from sections of the crowd. Fans sang “Musulmán el que no bote” — roughly, “If you’re not jumping, you’re a Muslim” — during the first half, while the Egyptian national anthem was met with loud whistling before kickoff. Stadium officials displayed anti-discrimination messages on screens at halftime and again early in the second half, but the referee did not activate FIFA’s anti-racism protocol.as

Spain star Lamine Yamal, an 18-year-old practicing Muslim whose father is Moroccan, posted a pointed response on Instagram. “I am Muslim, alhamdulillah,” he wrote. “I know it was against the opposition and nothing personal, but as a Muslim it is still disrespectful and completely intolerable. To use religion as a way of mocking others inside a stadium is ignorant and racist”.espn

Head coach Luis de la Fuente said he felt “total and absolute disgust” toward “any form of xenophobia, racism, and disrespect”.dw

Investigations and Potential FIFA Sanctions

Catalonia’s regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, announced on Wednesday that it is investigating “Islamophobic and xenophobic chants” from the match in coordination with the Prosecutor’s Office for Hate Crimes and Discrimination. Officers are analyzing footage and social media content to identify those responsible.surinenglish

A source told ESPN that FIFA will also analyze reports from the referee, the match inspector, and the on-site security team, with Spain facing potential sanctions ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The Egyptian Football Association called the chanting a “reprehensible racist act” and said it is working with FIFA officials to prevent future incidents. FIFA itself stated that “what happened is completely unacceptable” and reaffirmed its commitment to combating racism.espn

Broader Context

The incident arrives amid heightened scrutiny of racism in football. Earlier this year, Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior alleged racist abuse from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match, leading to a UEFA investigation and provisional suspension. Berni Álvarez, Catalonia’s sports minister, criticized organizers for a delayed response, saying the match “should have been stopped” after the first chant. With the World Cup approaching this summer, Spain now faces the unwelcome possibility of disciplinary action at a moment when the sport’s governing bodies are under pressure to show that anti-racism protocols are more than words on paper.aljazeera