UEFA fines Real Madrid after member’s Nazi salute, with suspended partial closure warning | OneFootball

UEFA has fined Real Madrid €15,000 after a member made a Nazi salute during the match against Benfica. The supporter, who was in the singing section, has been expelled from the club. The sanction carries a suspended 500-seat closure in that area if a similar incident occurs within the next year.

The individual was identified by the club’s security and action followed swiftly. The club said in a statement that it had urgently asked its disciplinary commission to begin immediate expulsion proceedings after he was filmed performing the salute before kick-off.

UEFA has followed its standard protocol in such cases, a process previously applied to Barcelona and Atlético. During the Bernabéu tie a banner against racism was displayed, a response to what had unfolded in the first leg.

At Estádio da Luz, Vinicius asked French referee François Letexier to activate the anti-racism protocol after alleging insults from Prestianni. UEFA continues to investigate and provisionally suspended the Argentine to avoid a tense encounter at the Bernabéu.

Days later, Benfica identified several members and fans and opened disciplinary cases over monkey gestures in the first leg of the Champions League play-offs. Those actions have not yet brought an official UEFA punishment.

Real Madrid face Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, 11 March at 21:00 at the Santiago Bernabéu, the first leg of the round of 16. The stadium will be closely monitored during the 12-month period that includes the suspended closure warning.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo