UEFA punishes Real Madrid and orders partial closure of the Bernabéu
An incident in the stands has brought consequences for Real Madrid. UEFA has already made a decision that could affect the Santiago Bernabéu.
The incident that triggered the sanction
Real Madrid once again finds itself at the center of controversy following a racist incident during its recent Champions League match against Benfica at the Santiago Bernabéu.
UEFA confirmed this Friday a disciplinary sanction against the Spanish club after a fan made gestures considered racist in the stadium stands. Cameras captured the moment before the match even kicked off, allowing security to identify the individual and remove him from the stadium immediately.
The incident occurred in the stadium’s Fan Stand, prompting swift action from stadium authorities and eventually leading to disciplinary measures from European football’s governing body.
Partial stadium closure and financial fine
After reviewing the case, UEFA decided to impose a sanction on Real Madrid that includes a €15,000 fine and the partial closure of the Santiago Bernabéu for the club’s next home match in a UEFA competition.
Specifically, the measure will affect 500 seats adjacent to the lower south stand of the stadium.
However, the closure will not be enforced immediately. The sanction has been suspended for a one-year probationary period, meaning it will only be activated if a similar incident occurs again during that time.
UEFA’s official statement
In its disciplinary ruling, UEFA explained that the decision responds to the “racist and/or discriminatory behavior of supporters” during the match.
The governing body confirmed both the financial fine and the conditional stadium closure, stressing that clubs must strictly enforce anti-racism protocols in European competitions.
Real Madrid’s response
Following the incident, Real Madrid publicly condemned any form of racist or discriminatory behavior inside the stadium.
The club stated that it rejects “all gestures and expressions that incite violence and hatred in sport and society” and emphasized that it cooperated fully with authorities to identify the individual responsible.
Even so, the swift action taken by the club was not enough to prevent UEFA’s disciplinary measures, meaning Real Madrid will now have to reinforce its control and prevention protocols at the Santiago Bernabéu to avoid further incidents in future European matches.
