UEFA Ruling on Atlético Madrid
In a recent ruling, UEFA has slapped Atlético Madrid with a €30,000 fine due to the offensive conduct exhibited by their fans during a Champions League match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in October. Reports indicate that Atlético supporters engaged in troubling behaviors, including making monkey gestures and Nazi salutes, which constituted a violation of UEFA’s Disciplinary Regulations, specifically Article 14 (2).
Penalties and Suspensions
In addition to the fine, the club faces a suspended penalty that could prevent their supporters from traveling to away games for one match, though this ban will be held off for a probationary period of one year. The €30,000 fine arises from the offensive actions of fans, along with a separate €10,000 penalty related to the throwing of objects during the match, which took place amidst an unfortunate escalation of fan misconduct.
Other Cases
Alongside Atlético Madrid, UEFA also dealt with another case involving Qarabag FK Youth, which was fined €5,000 and mandated to play one home game without spectators due to similar incidents of racist and discriminatory behavior by its young fans during a UEFA Youth League match against Chelsea on November 5. Like Atlético, the behind-closed-doors ruling for Qarabag has been suspended for a year, giving both clubs a chance to rectify their situations and prevent future occurrences of such behavior.
