UEFA, the governing body of European football, imposed a financial penalty on FC Barcelona and banned the club’s fans from attending an upcoming away Champions League match.
The decision comes after several Barcelona supporters displayed a banner with a phrase linked to Nazism during the team’s match against Monaco in the first round of the Champions League.
UEFA’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee has decided to enact a previously suspended disciplinary measure, originally imposed by the Appeals Committee on April 17, 2024, due to racist behavior by Barcelona’s fans.
“The club is prohibited from selling tickets to its supporters for its next away game in the Champions League,” stated UEFA in an official release.
The term “suspended action” refers to a prior penalty where Barcelona was barred from allowing its fans to attend an away match, which was suspended and would only be applied if a similar infraction occurred within a specified period.
This follow-up comes after a racist incident involving some fans during a previous season’s match against Paris Saint-Germain.
As a result, Barcelona fans will not be able to attend the upcoming Champions League away game against Red Star Belgrade on November 6.
In addition to the spectator ban, UEFA has fined Barcelona €10,000 and imposed an additional suspended one-match away ticket ban for a year.
FC Barcelona, in a formal statement, has accepted the sanctions, noting that it will refund fans who have already purchased tickets for the affected match.
In May, Barcelona officially terminated Xavi Hernandez’s role as coach, following a season devoid of any trophies. This decision comes shortly after an agreement had been reached between Xavi and Barcelona president Joan Laporta for him to continue his coaching duties into the next season.
