Barcelona have provisionally suspended two socios (club members) and banned a third non-socio supporter from purchasing match tickets following alleged “racist behavior” during the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona. Paris Saint Germain.
It comes after Barcelona were fined €25,000 (£21,400) and given a one-match suspended ban from selling tickets to away fans for UEFA competitions for their behavior in Paris.
Barcelona won the first leg of the quarter-final 3-2 in Paris, but were eliminated from the competition after a 4-1 defeat in the second leg at Montjuic the following week.
After the quarter-final, UEFA’s appeals body fined Barcelona on three separate counts of fan conduct during the first leg in France; €25,000 for “racist behavior”, €2,000 for lighting fireworks and €5,000 for acts of degradation.
Friday, a Barcelona declaration read: “The three supporters investigated were arrested at the end of the match, accused of having made Nazi salutes as well as having uttered racist insults.”
The club confirmed that provisional suspensions and bans would be “immediate” with an internal investigation underway, which could last “up to three months”.
Barcelona added: “The two suspended members as well as the accused supporters club member may present their corresponding defenses to the club’s disciplinary bodies.”
In addition to the fine for “racist behavior”, UEFA imposed a suspended one-match ban on the club selling tickets to away fans for matches in European competitions for a probationary period of one year, starting from April 18.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, appear to have escaped UEFA sanctions for abusive chants against Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior.
A disciplinary circular issued by UEFA on Thursday made no reference to the chants, which took place before Atletico’s round of 16 tie against Inter and Barcelona’s quarter-final second leg against PSG.
Videos of the chants were widely broadcast by local media and as they took place outside the club’s stadiums. It is understood that UEFA will not have jurisdiction to file a complaint due to incidents occurring outside the stadium and not in the stands.
Athleticism has contacted UEFA for comment.
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