ZURICH — World Cup winner Spain has been fined US$20,000 by FIFA after fans chanted an anti-Muslim slogan at a warmup friendly against Egypt in Barcelona. FIFA said Friday the verdict was confirmed in recent days by its appeals body after an initial ruling by three disciplinary judges. The chant came at a game on March 31 and was later condemned by Spain star Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim, as “disrespectful and intolerable.” “Using a religion as a taunt on the field makes you look ignorant and racist,” Yamal wrote in April on Instagram. The Barcelona winger was not the direct target of the abuse. FIFA disciplinary judges wrote in their verdict “harsh sanctions were necessary,” while noting it was a first offence for the Spanish soccer federation, which had reacted quickly to the incident and condemned it. World soccer’s ruling body ordered the federation to pay $20,000 and imposed crowd measures on the team’s next home friendly. That is likely to be in June 2027 or March 2028. A section of 15 per cent of the seats in the Spain home stadium must be closed or filled with special interest groups “such as families, students, and anti-discrimination organizations.” The chant was heard in the 10th and 47th minutes of the 0-0 draw at Espanyol’s stadium, the FIFA verdict said. The judges praised Spanish officials who put in place “preventive measures” before the game, “cooperated fully with the match officials and the relevant authorities,” publicly condemned the chanted and worked to identify the fans responsible. ___ The Associated Press
