Spain takes FIFA penalty for Islamophobic chants to CAS after appeal rejected

FIFA sanctions after Egypt match

The sanctions followed chants by some Spain supporters during the March match at RCDE Stadium, near Barcelona and home to LaLiga club Espanyol. During the goalless World Cup warm-up, fans chanted, “If you don’t jump, you’re a Muslim.” Spain winger Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim, condemned the chants at the time. He called them disrespectful and intolerable, and described those responsible as “ignorant and racist.”

Federation disputes FIFA ruling

The Royal Spanish Football Federation, or RFEF, argued that the word “Muslim” was neither insulting nor pejorative. It said the supporters’ conduct should be considered under FIFA Article 17, which addresses political, ideological, religious or offensive messages, rather than Article 15, which covers discrimination and racist abuse.

The RFEF appealed the sanction, but FIFA dismissed the appeal last week, a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters. The federation is now taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Monitoring and stadium response

The chants were detected by the RFEF’s monitoring systems and reported immediately to match officials, according to the official. Security was also reinforced in the affected stadium section. The official said measures ensured the chants did not happen again and that spectators in the stadium expressed disapproval of the behaviour.