Spanish FA Condemns Anti-Muslim Chants During Egypt Match in Barcelona

The Spanish Football Association (RFEF) has condemned anti-Muslim chants made by sections of the crowd during the first half of a friendly match between Spain and Egypt in Barcelona. The game, which ended in a goalless draw, saw the Egyptian delegation booed before kickoff, followed by offensive chants from the stands at the RCD Espanyol Stadium last Tuesday.

The RFEF affirmed its categorical rejection of such behavior via its official accounts, stating, "The Spanish Federation stands against racism in football and condemns any act of violence inside stadiums." Meanwhile, stadium management displayed warning messages against hate speech and intolerance on giant screens and broadcast them via loudspeakers. This measure was repeated at the start of the second half and was met with boos from some sections of the crowd, following reports of chants including the phrase, "He who doesn't jump is a Muslim."

In a related development, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called for the isolation and identification of individuals who exploit sporting events to spread violence. De la Fuente stated, "Violent people use football to find a space for themselves, so they must be excluded from society, identified, and kept as far away as possible." However, the official anti-racism protocol was not activated during the match, as referee Georgi Kabakov was not informed of the incidents, leading to play continuing as normal.

This incident comes after the match was relocated to Spain from Qatar due to the current situation in the Middle East. These developments place the issue of combating discrimination under scrutiny in Spain, especially as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup and faces pressure to improve the fan environment within its stadiums.