Fifa orders partial stadium closure for Spain over anti-Muslim chants

Spain have been ordered to close 15% of the stadium for their next international friendly after anti-Muslim chanting by supporters during the match against Egypt on 31 March. BBC Sport reported that Fifa also imposed a $20,000 fine following disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Association, known as the RFEF. The match at Barcelona's RCDE Stadium ended 0-0.

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The restriction must be applied mainly to seating behind the goals. It does not necessarily mean every affected seat will be empty: Fifa may approve the admission of community or special-interest groups into those areas. Families, students and organisations working against discrimination are among the groups that could be allowed to attend under that arrangement, according to the BBC's account of the decision.

The report said a group of home supporters began the discriminatory chanting around the 10th minute, with further chanting heard early in the second half. An anti-discrimination warning was shown on the stadium screen and repeated after the interval. Some sections of the crowd responded to the warning with whistles. Fifa subsequently opened proceedings over conduct it described as Islamophobic and xenophobic.

The RFEF condemned the anti-Muslim chants after the incident, but took a different position on their disciplinary significance. In the written reasons published by Fifa, the federation argued that the chanting did not amount to discriminatory conduct. The disciplinary committee rejected that defence, pointing to the inconsistency between presenting the chant as harmless and activating measures intended to counter discrimination inside the stadium.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente also condemned the behaviour after the match. He described it as unacceptable and said violent people were using football to establish a presence for themselves. His response and the federation's public condemnation formed part of the aftermath of an incident that has now resulted in both a financial penalty and a restriction on attendance.

The Egyptian Football Association likewise denounced the chanting as racist after the draw. It distinguished the actions of the small group involved from the relationship between the two national governing bodies, saying the incident would not damage their close ties. Spain's attendance sanction applies to their next friendly, rather than an immediately specified competitive fixture.