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After some fans allegedly shouted anti-Muslim chants during last Tuesday’s international soccer friendly between Spain’s national team and Egypt, FIFA confirmed it had opened disciplinary proceedings.
In a statement, the sport’s governing body said action was taken against Spain’s federation following the incident.
“FIFA has today opened disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Association for incidents that took place during the friendly match against Egypt.”
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Spain’s players line up before the international friendly match between Spain and Egypt at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat, near Barcelona, on March 31, 2026. (Lluis Gene/AFP)
The RCDE Stadium in Catalonia, Spain hosted the match on March 31 with Spain as the home team. Fans in sections of the 40,000-seat stadium – a potential future World Cup venue – were possibly heard chanting, “bote, bote, bote musulman el que no bote”, which translates to “jump, jump, jump, whoever doesn’t jump is a Muslim.” The song appeared several times during the match.
The stadium announcer issued a warning to fans about the venue’s policy against discriminatory behavior following reports of anti-Muslim chants.
Spain’s players walk on the pitch before the international friendly soccer match against Egypt at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat, near Barcelona, on March 31, 2026. (Lluis Gene/AFP)
Egypt overwhelms a Muslim nation. According to the World Religion Database, approximately 90% of the country’s population identifies as Muslim.
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Spanish star Lamine Yamal condemned the chants a day later, calling those responsible “ignorant and racist”.
“I’m a Muslim, thank God,” the 18-year-old wrote in a post to Instagram on Wednesday. “I understand not the entire fanbase is like that, but for those who sing those chants: Using religion as something to mock people in a football stadium leaves you as ignorant and racist people.”
FIL – Spain’s Lamine Yamal, center, warms up for the Nations League semifinal soccer match between Spain and France in Stuttgart, Germany, June 5, 2025. (Matthias Schrader/AP)
“Football is about enjoying and supporting, not insulting people for who they are or what they believe,” Yamal’s post concluded.
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Criticism was swift, with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) condemning the behavior before full-time and Joan Garcia and Pedri echoing that stance after the match.
“The RFEF stands against racism in football and condemns any act of violence inside stadiums,” the sport’s governing body in Spain wrote in a statement posted on social media last Tuesday.
The backlash extended beyond the pitch, with Spain’s Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports and the Council on American-Islamic Relations also condemning the chants.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente also condemned the message. “I am repulsed by and absolutely reject any form of xenophobia or racism – it is completely intolerable,” he told a news conference.
