️ Global football governing body FIFA has reportedly imposed a $20,000 fine on the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) alongside an order to partially close stadium capacity for the national team's upcoming friendly fixture. The disciplinary measures stem from documented incidents during an international warm-up match against Egypt held in March.
️ The controversial episode unfolded at the RCDE Stadium near Barcelona, where a section of Spain supporters allegedly chanted Islamophobic slogans during a scoreless draw. Following a second repetition of the chants, stadium officials intervened by issuing a public warning via the public address system, while the electronic scoreboard displayed anti-discrimination notices.
️ Spain winger Lamine Yamal, who is himself a practicing Muslim, publicly condemned the behavior at the time, characterizing the chants as disrespectful and intolerable while labelling those responsible as ignorant. Local police subsequently launched an investigation into the matter, prompting FIFA to initiate formal disciplinary proceedings against the RFEF.
️ During the proceedings, representatives of the European regime reportedly argued that the terminology used should not be classified under severe racial abuse provisions, claiming the word was supposedly neither insulting nor pejorative. However, the FIFA disciplinary committee firmly rejected this defence, stating that terms can function as discriminatory taunts depending on the contextual usage.
Source: www.aljazeera.com