Spain was punished by FIFA for Islamophobic slogans during a friendly match with Egypt

Spain has been sanctioned by FIFA after the incidents that took place at the Espanyol Stadium in Barcelona, which hosted a friendly match against Egypt.

FIFA announced in a statement that Spain was fined $20,000 and partially closed its stadium for the next friendly after it twice chanted Islamophobic chants during a match against Egypt in March.

The sanctions relate to incidents at the RCDE stadium near Barcelona, home of La Liga club Espanyol, where some Spanish fans chanted: "Whoever doesn't jump is a Muslim" during a World Cup warm-up match that ended in a 0-0 draw.

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At the end of the list, after repeating the slogan, the stadium announcer gave a warning and the scoreboard displayed a message against discriminatory behavior.

Spanish winger Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim, condemned the chants at the time, describing them as disrespectful and intolerable, calling the officials "ignorant and racist".

Spanish police opened an investigation the next day, while world governing body FIFA later began disciplinary action against the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

The organization argued that the word "Muslim" was "neither insulting nor offensive", adding that fans' behavior should be assessed under FIFA's Article 17, which covers political, ideological, religious or offensive messages, rather than Article 15, which deals with racial discrimination and abuse.

However, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee rejected this argument, saying that Article 15 does not require the explicit use of an insult and that a term can be discriminatory when it is used in context as an "insult, insult or derogatory sign".

FIFA fined the RFEF and ordered the closure of at least 15% of available seats for Spain's next friendly.

Al Jazeera has contacted the RFEF for comment.