Spain receive punishment following 'repugnant' Islamophobic chants

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FT Desk

The governing body of Spanish football, the RFEF, has been fined $20,000 and hit with a partial stadium closure after fans were found guilty of Islamophobic chanting during a friendly against Egypt in April.

The fixture in question took place at Espanyol's RCDE Stadium and it was an uneventful affair on the pitch as it ended 0-0.

Headlines were made due to chants from the home crowd. Spain supporters chanted "bote, bote, bote musulman el que no bote" (jump, jump, jump, whoever doesn’t jump is a Muslim). This chant is often heard at Spain games, but it usually targets the opposing national team rather than a religion.

The RFEF, and several players as well as head coach Luis de la Fuente, condemned the chants after the game, but the governing body has now been punished with a fine and a one-game partial stadium closure.

FIFA's disciplinary committee concluded the chants "clearly use religious identity as a means of distinguishing and discriminating against the opposing side."

The Egyptian Football Association called the chants a "repugnant act of racism" but acknowledged at the time their positive relationship with the RFEF would continue.

Yamal condems Islamophobic chants

Lamine Yamal, a practising Muslim, took to social media to condemn the chants at the time.

"I am Muslim, Alhamdulillah," he wrote.

"Yesterday at the stadium, the chant of 'whoever doesn't jump is a Muslim' was heard. I know it was aimed at the rival team, and it wasn't something personal against me, but as a Muslim, it doesn't stop being disrespectful and something intolerable.

"I understand that not all fanatics are like this, but to those who sing these things: using religion as mockery makes you ignorant and racist people. Football is about enjoyment and encouragement, not disrespecting people for who they are or what they believe in.

"With that being said, thank you to the people who came to cheer us on. See you at the World Cup."

Yamal and Spain would go on to win the 2026 World Cup, defeating Argentina in the final.