Barcelona have been handed an enormous fine after they crashed out of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, April 16.
What happened?
On Thursday, April 18, UEFA announced that Barcelona had been handed a 25,000 euro fine for racist behavior by their fans after two supporters were questioned by police following their Champions League quarter-final first leg in Paris.
Paris Saint Germain hosted Barcelona in Parc de Prince on Wednesday, April 10, where the Spanish powerhouse secured a 3-2 victory, but cops in Paris noticed that the visitors’ fans were busy chatting in racist gestures.
On Wednesday, April 10, Paris police said they had questioned two people after videos were published on social media of a supporter making monkey noises and another making Nazi salutes at the Parc des Princes.
The European body also charged the Catalan club with three counts – acts of damage, setting off fireworks, and racist behavior.
However, among the transgressions cited by the governing body, UEFA says Barcelona must pay €2000 for lighting flares, and €5000 for damages.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have been ordered to contact Paris Saint Germain within 30 days to settle the damage caused by supporters in the stadium and to pay €25000 for their fans’ racist behavior.
Barcelona were also banned from selling tickets to their supporters for their next away European game, although that punishment is suspended untill next year.
Recall that Barcelona failed to rest behind their first leg-led over the French Powerhouse when they locked horns with Luis Enrique’s men in Spain, the five-time European champions lost their second leg tie 6-4 on aggregate after PSG secured a 4-1 victory over Xavi Alonso men on Tuesday, April 16.
Speaking on Barcelona fans’ racist behavior, UEFA said; “The UEFA Appeals Body has decided to fine FC Barcelona 25,000 euros and to ban FC Barcelona from selling tickets to its away supporters for its next UEFA competition match, for the racist behavior of its supporters.”
This is not the first time that Barcelona have faced sanctions under UEFA’s disciplinary code.
Their fans have been caught making racial slurs often in the past for which they have been fined.
In July 2015, the Blaugrana were handed a fine and faced a partial closure of a part of the stands at the Camp Nou for the first Champions League match in the 2016/2017 season.
This is due to the airing of independence chants and the massive presence of stellate flags during Barca’s 3-1 triumph over Italian champions Juventus in Berlin.
The Catalonia fans will serve their match suspension next season and UEFA has warned Barcelona about the behavior of their fans in the future.
What’s next for Barcelona?
Following their Champions League nightmare, Xavi and his men will be seen next in action when they face Real Madrid on Sunday, April 21.
