The Spanish National Team's path to the World Cup has suffered a very serious off-field setback. FIFA has officially confirmed the opening of disciplinary proceedings against the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after the regrettable incidents that occurred during the recent friendly match against Egypt at the Cornellà-El Prat stadium.
The focus of the investigation centers on the chants of a xenophobic nature ("Muslim whoever doesn't jump") that resonated in the stands. Despite the fact that the video scoreboards and the stadium's public address system warned fans about the consequences of these acts, the shouts were repeated in the second half, being clearly reflected in the referee's report.
A climate of tension in the stands
The seriousness of the matter does not only lie in the chants against the Egyptian fans. The file arrives at a moment of maximum vigilance on the part of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which seeks to eradicate violence and racism in stadiums under a policy of "zero tolerance". During the match, whistles were also recorded at the national anthem of Egypt and insults directed at the political sphere, tarnishing what should have been a football celebration.
The answer of the RFEF
The Federation has tried to stop the blow through a statement on social media: "The RFEF condemns any act of violence in stadiums and joins the message of our football against racism". However, this statement might not be enough to avoid a large economic sanction or, in the worst case, the partial closure of stadiums in upcoming international commitments.