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- They Partially Close the Metropolitano Due to Racist Insults Towards Nico Williams
They Partially Close the Metropolitano Due to Racist Insults Towards Nico Williams
The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has imposed a sanction on Atlético de Madrid, which includes the partial closure of their stadium for two matches and a fine of $21,362.80 for violent, racist, xenophobic, and intolerant behavior.
The sanction comes after an incident in the previous match against Athletic Club, where a fan from the cheering section allegedly made monkey noises directed at visiting player Nico Williams.
The Disciplinary Committee deemed these actions as very serious offenses, as defined in articles 69.1.c), 69.2.d), and 76.2, subsections b) and d), of the RFEF Disciplinary Code.
In its resolution, the committee stipulates that the club must identify the structure of the stadium stands before May 3 to determine the area subject to partial closure, which, according to the referee's report, would affect the south stand section of the field.
"For the next two matches played by Atlético de Madrid at their sports facilities, access to the public in that area must be closed off, which will be properly delineated, and spectators who usually occupy those areas will not be relocated," the resolution adds.
Furthermore, it mandates that during the matches affected by the partial closure sanction, the closed-off area must display a visible message condemning violent, racist, xenophobic, and intolerant acts in football and supporting fair play.
The match report reflects that "around the 36th minute, when the game was about to resume with a corner kick in favor of Athletic Club, monkey noises 'UH UH' were heard from the south stand." The assistant referee and player Nico Williams heard this.
"At that moment, the anti-racism protocol was activated, instructing the Atlético de Madrid delegate that the match could not resume until it was announced through the public address system that such behavior must cease, and in case of repetition, the match would be stopped again, with all entering the locker rooms. One minute later, the announcement was made over the public address system, and the match resumed," the resolution adds.
