UEFA Sanctions Atlético Madrid for Fan Misconduct

Atlético Madrid has been fined €30,000 and faces a suspended sanction of a travel ban for its supporters, imposed by UEFA due to “racist and discriminatory behavior” exhibited by fans during the Champions League match against Arsenal in October.

According to sources from UEFA, the charges against Atlético stem from incidents involving monkey gestures and noises, as well as Nazi salutes performed by their supporters at the Emirates Stadium in London.

These actions violated Article 14 (2) of UEFA’s Disciplinary Regulations. Additionally, the Atlético fans were cited for throwing objects during the match.

Despite the gravity of the accusations, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has placed the one-match ban on ticket sales for an away game under a probationary period of one year.

The fine of €30,000 is accompanied by an additional penalty of €10,000 for the act of throwing objects, both of which are immediate sanctions.

In a related case, UEFA has also imposed a €5,000 fine on Azerbaijan’s Qarabag FK Youth and mandated that the club play one home match behind closed doors due to the “racist and/or discriminatory behavior” of its supporters during a UEFA Youth League match against Chelsea on November 5. This behind-closed-doors penalty has similarly been suspended for a one-year probationary period.