Benfica outraged by one-match stadium closure and 150,000-euro fine | OneFootball

Benfica has been ordered to play one match behind closed doors and fined 150,000 euros after the Autoridade para a Prevenção e o Combate à Violência no Desporto, APCVD, decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal on Thursday, the club said in a statement.

With the ruling now published, the club has exhausted all legal avenues of appeal.

The statement lamented the decision and called the sanction excessive. The case relates to pyrotechnics used by supporters at five matches during the 2022/23 season.

Its position is that all measures reasonably required to prevent such incidents were implemented, arguments that were not accepted by the APCVD or the courts.

In the club’s view, the decision will deprive thousands of members and supporters of backing the team and a full stadium closure is manifestly disproportionate, with any restriction better limited to the identified sections, in line with UEFA practice.

Source: Glorioso 1904