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Barça to appeal Uefa fine for independence flags

Barcelona Football Club are looking to appeal a €30,000 ($33,000) fine issued by Uefa after fans displayed independence flags during last month’s Champions League final.

Barça to appeal Uefa fine for independence flags
Pro-independence Catalans hold up their flags in the stadium. Photo: AFP

Uefa announced the decision to fine the Spanish champions on Thursday following a meeting of its Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body, saying regulations had been breached.

But the club, which defeated Italian club Juventus 3-1, immediately said that it did not agree with the decision and would be considering an appeal.

“FC Barcelona respects Uefa's decision that was relayed to the Club on Thursday in relation to the Champions League final in Berlin,” said a statement from the club. 

“However, it does not agree with that decision, especially in the light of the Uefa delegate’s description of the Barça members and fans’ behaviour as excellent, both before, during and after the game, as stated in their report,” 

The club said it could launch counter action.

“With the aim of defending the rights of the Club and its members and while respecting current legislation, the Club’s legal services will consider the possibility of questioning the fine announced today, Thursday.

“Our conviction is that the rights of the Club and members are not incompatible with current legislation.”

Uefa ruled that La Liga side breached article 16 of the regulations, which prohibits 'the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly messages that are of a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature'.

The football club have long been an outlet for fans who support Catalan independence from Spain to express their beliefs.

The club also faced sanctions after fans booed and whistled to drown out the national anthem during the King’s Cup final at the end of May in Camp Nou.

 

 

 

 

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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