Barcelona, Spain — FIFA has commenced disciplinary action against the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) following “Islamophobic and xenophobic “chants during a recent friendly match between Spain and Egypt in Barcelona. The match, which ended in a 0-0 draw, saw a warning message against xenophobic remarks displayed on the stadium screen, prompting some spectators to whistle in response.
The RFEF swiftly condemned the chants, with Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, describing them as “intolerable “and attributing them to “violent people using football to carve out a space for themselves.”FIFA’s statement confirmed the opening of disciplinary proceedings against the RFEF, highlighting the seriousness of the incidents.
Spanish police are also investigating the chants, while the Egyptian Football Association has strongly condemned them as a “repugnant act of racism.”However, the association expressed confidence that the actions of a few fans would not harm the close ties between the Spanish and Egyptian federations.
Despite the controversy, the match remained scoreless, leading to Spain’s loss of their top spot in the world rankings as a co-host of the 2030 World Cup.
Source: BBC Africa
