UEFA hit Barcelona with €17,000 fine over Frankfurt fan incident at Camp Nou | OneFootball

Barcelona have been sanctioned by UEFA following the events of the Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on December 9.

The European governing body has imposed a €17,000 fine on the club, primarily for being held responsible for the entry of flares and pyrotechnics into the stadium during the high-stakes encounter, reports Catalunya Radio (h/t FCB World).

What took place at Camp Nou

The core of the sanction lies in the club’s role as the host.

Despite the stringent security measures implemented to prevent a repeat of the infamous 2022 “invasion,” UEFA determined that Barcelona remains ultimately responsible for the safety and security of the facilities.

Since pyrotechnics were successfully smuggled past the checkpoints and lit during the match, the liability falls on the host institution.

UEFA’s disciplinary committee maintains that even if the flares were brought in by opposing fans, the failure to intercept them at the gates constitutes a breach of safety protocol.

Pyro from Frankfurt fans on show at Camp Nou. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

The report adds that the financial penalty was originally slated to be much higher. However, the fine was reduced to €17,000 thanks to a renewed positive relationship between Barcelona’s board and UEFA leadership.

This diplomatic rapport proved crucial in mitigating the disciplinary blow and lowering the fine. Meanwhile, it was reported earlier that UEFA had handed a €38,000 fine on Frankfurt while barring the club from selling tickets to fans for the next two away matches.

For Barcelona, the match at Camp Nou ended in a 2-1 victory, with Jules Kounde notably scoring twice in the second half to seal crucial three points that played a key role in helping Hansi Flick’s men to secure a berth inside the top eight.

Barcelona, therefore, have managed to avoid the playoff round and will be directly playing the Round of 16 in March, where they will take on the winners of the knockout playoffs.