UEFA has fined Real Madrid €15,000 (£13,000/$17,400) and ordered a suspended partial closure of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium after a supporter was filmed appearing to make a Nazi salute during a recent match.
The European football governing body said the sanction was imposed due to the “racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of supporters.”
In addition to the fine, the Spanish club has been instructed to close 500 adjacent seats in the lower south stand of the Bernabéu for one UEFA competition match. However, the stadium closure has been suspended for a one-year probationary period.
The incident reportedly occurred before Real Madrid’s recent UEFA Champions League victory over SL Benfica.
Reacting to the incident, Real Madrid confirmed that the fan involved had been identified and removed from the stadium.
“Real Madrid condemns this type of gesture and expression that incites violence and hatred in sports and society,” the club said in a statement.
The development comes shortly after Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior alleged that he was racially abused by Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni during the same Champions League fixture.
Prestianni was subsequently banned for one match by UEFA following an investigation into the incident. The ban was later upheld after an appeal from Benfica.
Meanwhile, UEFA also recently sanctioned Tottenham Hotspur, fining the English club €30,000 (£26,200/$35,100) after one of their supporters made a similar gesture during a Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt.
