Barcelona hit with UEFA ban following bizarre incident in Champions League loss against Monaco
Barcelona will not have any fans in the away section for their next Champions League match. UEFA have banned the Catalan side from selling tickets for their game against Red Star Belgarde on November 6.
Barcelona fans were handed a suspended ban earlier this year after their fans' racist behavior in the quarter-final match against Paris Saint-Germain. The ban has now come into effect after a fan was spotted with a "Flick heil" flag during their 2-1 loss to AS Monaco.
The ban also comes with a €10,000 fine for the Catalan side, who are still trying to get their financial crisis resolved. They were handed a €32,000 fine back in April after the racist incident at PSG.
The latest verdict sees the suspended ban extended for another year by the UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB). They cited Article 14 of the UEFA disciplinary regulations, and it read:
“Any entity or person subject to these regulations who insults the human dignity of a person or group of persons on whatever grounds, including skin colour, race, religion, ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation, incurs a suspension lasting at least ten matches or a specified period of time, or any other appropriate sanction.”
Barcelona have two home matches in the UEFA Champions League next and their fans will be able to attend those games.
FC Barcelona release statement after UEFA hand away ban
Barcelona have acknowledged the ban from UEFA for their away fans and have stated that they reject any type of justification for the flag displayed by the fan. They are also set to sanction the fan responsible for it and said:
"FC Barçelona communicate that UEFA have applied a €10,000 fine and banned the sale of tickets for an away Champions League game due to racist behaviour by some fans during the first matchday game played by the men's football first team at the Stade Louis II in Monaco on 19 September. The Club communicate that it will both comply with and apply this sanction for the UEFA Champions League matchday four fixture that the team will play against FK Crvena zvezda in Belgrade on 6 November. FC Barçelona will return the ticket cost for fans who have already purchased said ticket."
"FC Barçelona reject any type of justification for violence, and as indicated in articles 3 and 4 of the Statutes, they strive to protect and promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights contained in the International Bill of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations. Furthermore, given behaviour by supporters' groups and fans both at home matches (Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys or Estadi Johan Cruyff) and at away grounds is deriving in repeated sanctions both domestically and internationally, the Club is set to strengthen current measures and adopt suitable further initiatives to prevent future occurrences and apply sanctions to those responsible."
Barcelona next face Young Boys and Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League. Both matches take place in October at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.