FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings over Islamophobic chants in Spain-Egypt match

FIFA has started disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) over ​Islamophobic and xenophobic chants during a ‌friendly between Spain and Egypt on March 31, the global soccer body said on ​Tuesday.

At the RCDE Stadium near ​Barcelona, the home ground of LaLiga ⁠club Espanyol, Spain supporters chanted “who doesn’t ​jump is a Muslim” during the ​World Cup warm-up match which ended in a goalless draw.

“FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings today ​against the Spanish FA for the ​incidents in the friendly against Egypt,” FIFA said ‌in ⁠a statement.

Spanish police launched an investigation into the chants last week.

Spain winger Lamine Yamal condemned the chants as disrespectful ​and intolerable ​in an ⁠Instagram post.

The Egyptian Football Association also condemned the chants ​as an entirely unacceptable “repugnant act ​of ⁠racism,” and added that the acts of a small group of spectators would ⁠not ​affect the close relations ​between the Spanish and Egyptian federations.