Fifa has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Association after anti-Muslim chants were reportedly made by Spanish fans during a friendly match against Egypt last week.
The incident, which occurred during last Tuesday's game in Barcelona, has drawn widespread condemnation.
Spain international Lamine Yamal, the Spanish government, and the football federation itself have all spoken out against the behaviour. Spanish police had previously confirmed they were investigating the conduct of fans during the fixture.
Confirming the action, football's governing body stated: "Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings today against the Spanish FA for the incidents in the friendly against Egypt."
Yamal, who is Muslim, said the chants made by some of the fans at RCDE Stadium were disrespectful and intolerable. The Barcelona star said it didn’t matter that he was not targeted.
The offensive chants, including "who doesn't jump is a Muslim", were made by Spain supporters at the RCDE Stadium near Barcelona, home to La Liga club Espanyol, during the goalless World Cup warm-up fixture.
Spain’s justice Minister Felix Bolanos denounced the incident on social media platform X, reiterating the leftist government's firm stance against the rise of the far-right, which it associates with increasing racism and xenophobia.
"Racist insults and chants shame us as a society. The far right will not leave any space free of its hatred, and those who remain silent today are complicit," he wrote.
The incident underscores persistent concerns about racism within Spanish football, a recurring issue notably highlighted by cases involving Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr.
Despite messages displayed on overhead screens reminding fans that acts of racism and xenophobia constitute a crime, the chants continued.
Spain's coach, Luis de la Fuente, told reporters that such racist behaviour was "intolerable".
He added: "They are not representative of football. They take advantage of football, as they do in other areas of life. We need to isolate these people from society."
The Spanish Football Federation also issued a statement via social media, affirming it "stands against racism in football and condemns any act of violence inside stadiums".
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