FIFA fines Spain $20,000, orders partial stadium closure over anti-Muslim chants in Egypt friendly

FIFA has fined Spain $20,000 and ordered a partial stadium closure for its next friendly over Islamophobic chants twice chanted during the March match against Egypt.

• FIFA fined the Spanish football federation $20,000 and ordered at least 15% of seats closed for Spain's next international friendly.
• The sanctions follow chants of "Who doesn't jump is a Muslim" repeated twice during the March friendly against Egypt at Espanyol's RCDE Stadium near Barcelona.
• The Spanish federation argued the word "Muslim" is neither insulting nor pejorative and said the conduct fell under FIFA Article 17, a position FIFA's disciplinary committee rejected.
• The Spanish federation announced it will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to have the sanction overturned.
• FIFA's appeals commission rejected Spain's appeal, confirming the $20,000 fine and the closure of at least 15% of the stadium.