Spain ordered to close 15% of stadium for next friendly over anti-Muslim chants

Spain must close 15% of the stadium for their next international friendly after FIFA sanctioned discriminatory chanting during the match against Egypt on 31 March, BBC Sport reported. The punishment also includes a $20,000 fine following incidents at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, where the teams played out a goalless draw.

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The closure must be concentrated mainly in the stands behind the goals. However, FIFA has left open the possibility that the affected seats could be occupied by community or special-interest groups rather than remaining empty. Families, students and organisations working against discrimination are among the groups that could attend under that arrangement, which requires FIFA’s approval.

According to the BBC’s account, a group of home supporters began the anti-Muslim chanting about 10 minutes into the first half and repeated it near the start of the second. An anti-discrimination warning appeared on the stadium screen and was shown again early after the interval. Some sections of the crowd responded to the repeated warning with whistles.

FIFA subsequently began disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Association, known as the RFEF. In the governing body’s published reasons for its decision, the Spanish federation argued that the chants did not amount to discriminatory conduct. The disciplinary committee rejected that position, pointing to the inconsistency between describing the chanting as harmless and activating anti-discrimination measures in response to it during the match.

The RFEF had publicly condemned the anti-Muslim chants after the incident. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente also denounced the behaviour and criticised people who use football as a platform for violence. Those responses formed part of the reaction to an episode that prompted disciplinary action against the federation, with the resulting stadium restriction applying specifically to Spain’s next friendly.

The Egyptian Football Association condemned the chanting after the draw, describing it as racism. It nevertheless distinguished the conduct of a small group of supporters from the relationship between the two national associations, saying the incident would not damage their close ties. FIFA’s decision now sets out both the attendance restriction Spain must implement and the approval process for any community-group access to the closed sections.