UEFA has handed Barcelona a ban on selling tickets for their next away match in the Champions League, following racist behaviour from some of their fans during a recent defeat against Monaco. The Spanish club has also been fined €10,000, with the sanctions taking effect for their upcoming clash against Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade this November.
The punishment stems from an incident where a section of Barcelona supporters displayed a banner with Nazi-related connotations, reading “Flick heil,” during the Monaco match.
Previous Violations Lead to Stricter Punishments
According to Goal.com , Barcelona had already been under scrutiny by UEFA due to a previous suspended ban for racist actions by fans during a Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain in April. During that game, supporters were involved in various disruptions, including racist chants, damage to the stadium, and the use of fireworks at Parc des Princes.
That incident led to fines totaling €32,000 and the suspended away fan ticket ban, which has now been activated due to the repeated violations.
Barcelona’s Response and Commitment to Addressing the Issue
Following UEFA’s decision, Barcelona released an official statement confirming their acceptance of the sanctions. “The club will both comply with and apply this sanction,” the statement read. They also assured that fans who had already purchased tickets for the Crvena Zvezda game would receive refunds.
Additionally, Barcelona emphasized their commitment to rejecting any form of violence, noting that they strive to protect and promote human rights in line with the International Bill of Human Rights.
The club further pledged to take “suitable further initiatives” to prevent such incidents from recurring, including tightening existing measures and applying disciplinary actions to those responsible. UEFA has also issued Barcelona a new suspended ban that will be triggered if any further violations occur within the next 12 months.
