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

PARIS (Agencies): 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.