Real Madrid have been ordered to close part of their stadium for the first Champions League home game next season after the club has been charged for the racist incidents that occurred at the Santiago Bernabeu during the semi-final against Bayern Munich. Sectors 120 and 122 will be closed and the club will be required to display a banner reading “No to Racism” in them.
“Following the charge of racist behaviour by Real Madrid supporters during the match (Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations), the Control and Disciplinary Body has ordered the partial closure of the Santiago Bernabeu for one match,’ UEFA said in a statement. More specifically, sectors 120 and 122 of the stadium will be closed for the club’s next UEFA competition home game. Real Madrid are obliged to display a banner with the wording ‘No to Racism’ in those sectors,” UEFA has said in a statement.
Los Merengues directors have confirmed that they will appeal this decision, as they believe UEFA has missunderstood the meaning of the flags the fans displayed in those sectors. A representative from the club has told Marca that the symbols displayed are not related to any offensive ideology. Plus, Real’s directors are upset that it has taken UEFA five weeks to resolve this matter.
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