The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has revealed details of the sanction imposed by its Disciplinary Committee against the Spanish Football Federation, following offensive chants by fans during a match against the Egyptian national team earlier this year, 2026.
The case stems from the international friendly match between Spain and Egypt on March 31, 2026, where a group of Spanish fans chanted in Spanish: "He who does not jump is a Muslim."
According to reports submitted to FIFA's Disciplinary Committee, the chant was repeated during the match, prompting organizers to display an anti-discrimination warning message on the stadium screens.
Spanish Federation's Defense
The Royal Spanish Football Federation requested that the disciplinary proceedings be closed, asserting that the word "Muslim" is not inherently insulting or racist, and that the chant did not contain insults or incitement to hatred. It also clarified that the chant came from a limited group of fans and was not adopted by the rest of the stands, which responded with whistling and disapproval when attempts were made to repeat it.
The Spanish Federation noted that neither the Egyptian national team nor the Egyptian Football Federation filed any complaint regarding the incident; indeed, the latter sent a letter thanking the Spanish Federation for the good organization of the match.
The Spanish Federation confirmed that it had taken several measures to address the incident, including displaying and broadcasting anti-discrimination messages, enhancing security procedures in the affected stands, publicly condemning the chant, and cooperating with the police to identify those responsible.
As a precautionary measure, the Federation requested that the incident be classified as inappropriate crowd behavior under Article 17 of the Disciplinary Code, rather than religious discrimination under Article 15.
Reasons for Rejecting the Spanish Federation's Defenses
The Disciplinary Committee rejected the Spanish Federation's defenses, explaining that while the word "Muslim" may be neutral when used alone, its usage in this chant turned religious identity into a means of mockery and exclusion.
The Committee affirmed that Article 15 does not require the explicit use of racist or insulting language; it suffices that religion or any protected characteristic is used in a contemptuous or discriminatory manner.
The Committee considered that an objective observer would understand the chant as using Islamic identity to mock the opposing side, especially in a match against the Egyptian national team. It also held that the absence of a complaint from the Egyptian team, or the referee's decision not to stop the match, does not negate the occurrence of the violation.
It pointed out that the measures taken by the Spanish Federation itself, such as activating anti-discrimination messages, condemning the incident, and cooperating with the police, confirm that it was aware of the serious nature of the chant.
Strict Liability and Mitigating Factors
The Committee affirmed that the Spanish Federation bears strict liability for the actions of its fans, even if it proves it committed no fault or negligence.
However, the Committee took into account the Federation's swift intervention, full cooperation, condemnation of the incident, and its previous record free of similar violations, considering these factors as mitigating circumstances warranting only the minimum penalty.
FIFA Sanctions
The Disciplinary Committee decided to fine the Spanish Federation $20,000 and required it to play the next men's senior national team international friendly at home with a limited number of spectators, closing at least 15% of available seats, with the closure primarily focused on the stands behind the goals.
The Committee allowed the Spanish Federation, instead of closing these seats, to allocate them to families, students, or anti-discrimination organizations, provided that awareness activities and messages are implemented during the match and that FIFA approves the seating plan at least 15 days before the game.
The Committee also obligated the Spanish Federation to invest the fine amount within six months in preparing and implementing a comprehensive plan to combat discrimination and prevent the recurrence of such incidents, subject to FIFA approval. If the Federation fails to develop and implement the plan, it will be required to pay the $20,000 directly to FIFA.
The ruling emphasizes that the assessment of chants depends not solely on the literal meaning of the words, but on the context, purpose, and manner of use. Therefore, FIFA considered that turning Islamic affiliation into a tool for mocking the Egyptian national team constitutes religious discrimination, even in the absence of explicit insults, and despite the organizing federation's swift measures to address the incident.
