Islamophobic chants against Egypt: FIFA closes 15% of Spain's stadium, federation appeals to CAS

The FIFA Appeal Committee confirmed on Friday, October 16, 2026, the sanction imposed on the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for Islamophobic chants heard during the Spain-Egypt friendly match: a $20,000 fine, according to Al Jazeera, and the closure of at least 15% of the stadium's capacity for the Spanish national team's next friendly match, according to the Egyptian website KingFut.

The match was played on March 31, 2026, at the RCDE Stadium in the Barcelona metropolitan area as part of Spain's preparations for the World Cup. It ended in a goalless draw. In the 10th and 47th minutes, a section of the crowd chanted that those who did not jump were Muslims. The stadium broadcast warnings over the public address system and displayed anti-discrimination messages on the screens, both sources report.

For the Spanish federation, "Muslim" was not an insult

Before the authorities, the RFEF argued that the word "Muslim" was "neither insulting nor pejorative" and requested that the case fall under Article 17 of the disciplinary code, which targets offensive messages, rather than Article 15, which covers discrimination. FIFA rejected this argument, stating that Article 15 does not require an explicit slur, and that invoking an opponent's religious affiliation to mock them constitutes a marker of exclusion. The Spanish federation announced it would take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Egyptian Federation condemned the act, Spanish police investigated

The Egyptian Football Association had denounced the discrimination as unacceptable, while stating that the behavior of a small group of supporters would not damage the relationship between the two federations, according to KingFut. The Spanish police opened an investigation the day after the match, reports Al Jazeera. Spanish winger Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim himself, described the chants as intolerable and disrespectful, labeling the perpetrators as "ignorant and racist."

The sanction provides an alternative to a simple closure: the Spanish federation may reallocate the affected seats to families, students, or anti-discrimination associations, subject to prior authorization.

For African and African-origin players who star in European leagues, the issue is not theoretical: racist and religious incidents in European stadiums are most often settled with fines that are modest compared to professional football budgets. By classifying the act as discrimination rather than a simple offensive message, and by ordering the closure of a section of the stands, FIFA is setting a precedent here. This is exactly what the RFEF was contesting, and what the Court of Arbitration for Sport will have to decide.

The next known milestone is legal: if the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirms the decision, the measure will apply to La Roja's next friendly match.