FIFA to discipline Spanish Football Association after Islamophobic chants in Egypt fixture

Martin Macdonald

8 Apr 2026 09:01 CDT
5 min read

Lamine Yamal, Spain, Barcelona, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

FIFA will open disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) after "Islamophobic and xenophobic" chants were heard during a friendly between Spain and Egypt last week.

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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 anti-Muslim chants after the game, but the governing body is set to be punished.

"Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings today against the Spanish FA for the incidents in the friendly against Egypt," a Fifa statement said.

The Egyptian Football Association called the chants a "repugnant act of racism" but acknowledged 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. "I am Muslim, Alhamdulillah," the 18-year-old 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.

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"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."

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