FIFA has today “opened disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Federation for the incidents that occurred in the friendly match against Egypt”, the world’s governing body has confirmed. The chants from the stands of “Muslim, the one who does not jump” will therefore be the subject of an investigation by FIFA and this procedure has already been notified to the Spanish Football Federation.
The stands of the RCDE Stadium were flooded with color and encouragement in the run-up to Spain’s match against Egypt. However, ten minutes into the first half, part of the crowd sang a shameful chant that was joined by more and more people in which it could be clearly understood: “Muslim, whoever doesn’t jump is”. Unfortunately, this chant was repeated minutes later. In addition to this lamentable chant, part of the crowd also remembered Vinicius by singing “Vinicius, beach ball”.
Messages on the video scoreboard
At half-time, a message was displayed on the video scoreboard which read: “It is recalled that the legislation for the prevention of violence in sport prohibits and punishes active participation in violent, xenophobic, homophobic or racist acts”, and also over the public address system it was requested that those present refrain from xenophobic and disrespectful chants.
A few minutes after the start of the second half, the same situation was repeated, but this time a large part of the crowd responded with whistles and the same warning as at half-time was played over the public address system. In addition, the RFEF published a message on its social networks: “The RFEF joins the message of our football against racism and condemns any act of violence in stadiums”.
In addition, during the pre-match, part of the crowd booed the Egyptian national anthem, while insults were also heard directed at the Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, by a small group of fans.
Worldwide repulsion
The Government and the majority of political parties have condemned the Islamophobic and xenophobic chants uttered in the friendly match between Spain and Egypt at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella-El Prat, events that were investigated by the Mossos d’Esquadra and which the Executive has placed in the hands of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The incidents have also provoked the revulsion of the Islamic community and the football world, including Spanish and Muslim player Lamine Yamal.
Lamine’s reflection after the “Muslim who does not bounce” was as follows in a statement on his social networks:
“I am Muslim, alhamdulillah [praise be to God]. Yesterday in the stadium I heard the chant ‘he who does not jump is a Muslim’. I know it was about the rival team and it was not something personal against me, but as a Muslim person it is still disrespectful and intolerable. I understand that not all the fans are like that, but to those who sing these things: using a religion as a mockery in a field leaves you as ignorant and racist people. Football is to enjoy and encourage, not to disrespect people for what they are or what they believe in.”
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