Spain Fined $20,000 by FIFA, Ordered to Partially Close Stadium Over Islamophobic Chants
Spain have been fined $20,000 and ordered to partially close their stadium for their next friendly after supporters chanted Islamophobic slogans twice during a game against Egypt in March, FIFA said on October 16.
The sanctions relate to incidents at the RCDE Stadium near Barcelona, home of LaLiga club Espanyol, where some Spain fans chanted, "Who doesn't jump is a Muslim" during a World Cup warm-up match that ended 0-0. After the second chant, the stadium announcer issued a warning and the scoreboard displayed a message against discriminatory behaviour. Spain winger Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim, condemned the chants at the time as disrespectful and intolerable, calling those responsible "ignorant and racist."
The Spanish federation (RFEF) argued the word "Muslim" was neither insulting nor pejorative, but FIFA's disciplinary committee rejected that argument, saying a term can be discriminatory when used in context as an insult or taunt. FIFA ordered the closure of at least 15 percent of available seats for Spain's next friendly. Spanish police launched an investigation the day after the match. (GSM, based on Reuters reporting)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 马德里市景。Central madrid. Photo by Feranza, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
