Barca fined for whistling at King

Spanish authorities Monday moved to fine FC Barcelona 66,000 euros ($67,000) and Athletic Bilbao 18,000 euros over last season's Cup final where fans of the Catalan and Basque sides whistled Spain's King Felipe VI.

The state Higher Sports Council proposed the sanctions for "behaviour whose aim was to transform the sporting event into a stage for political demands through intolerant acts".

These included "whistling the national anthem and His Majesty the King", patron of the cup, the council said in a statement.

It also proposed a 123,000-euro fine for the Royal Spanish Football Federation as organiser of the Copa del Rey final at Barcelona's Nou Camp ground on May 30, which Barca won 3-1.

Fans of both sides drowned out the Spanish national anthem with boos and whistles at the start of the match.

The controversy came at a time of high political sensitivities, with Catalan leaders campaigning for independence from Spain ahead of a key regional election expected in September.