FIFA fines the Spain national team 20,000 dollars for racist chants during a friendly match against Egypt.

FIFA Fines Spanish National Team for Racist Chants During Friendly Match

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has imposed a fine of 20,000 dollars on the Spanish national football team due to incidents of racial discrimination by fans during a friendly match against the Egyptian national team. This match took place in Barcelona on March 31.

Appeal Committee Upholds Decision

FIFA’s Appeal Committee has supported the disciplinary decision and introduced restrictions on fan attendance for Spain’s next home friendly match. These measures include closing 15 percent of the stadium seats or designating them for specific groups, such as families, students, and organizations opposing discrimination.

Racist Chants Prompt Stadium Intervention

The sanctions followed a series of racist and anti-Muslim chants from a group of Spanish supporters inside the RCDE Stadium, which hosted the friendly encounter between Spain and Egypt. The chants recurred throughout the match, prompting stadium officials to intervene. They used loudspeakers to broadcast messages encouraging the rejection of discriminatory behavior and the fight against racism.

Immediate Actions Taken by the Spanish Football Federation

In response, the Spanish Football Federation confirmed that it took immediate action after identifying the incidents. They informed the match referee about the violations and utilized the stadium’s internal broadcasting system and screens to issue warnings to fans. Additionally, they collaborated with relevant authorities and submitted reports regarding the circumstances of the incident.

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