Atletico Madrid hit with partial stadium closure for Manchester City tie
UEFA have ordered Atletico Madrid to give up ‘at least 5,000 seats’ at the Wanda Metropolitano for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Manchester City on Wednesday.
This news comes after some supporters of the Spanish side appeared to make Nazi salutes during their 1-0 first-leg defeat at the Etihad Stadium last week, while one away fan has been charged by the Greater Manchester Police for alleged racist abuse.
A statement from UEFA read: “The UEFA Appeals Body has announced the following decision which would affect the attendance of supporters to UEFA matches.
“To order the partial closure of the Club Atletico de Madrid stadium during the next (one) UEFA competition match in which Club Atletico de Madrid would play as the host club, for the discriminatory behaviour of its supporters.
“Club Atletico de Madrid shall inform prior to the match, the sector(s) to be closed, which shall at least comprehend 5,000 seats.”
Atletico have also been ordered to display a banner on Wednesday night with the wording ‘#NoToRacism’ and the UEFA logo.
This is the second time that the La Liga outfit have been ordered to partially close their stadium for alleged discriminatory behaviour, after a racist banner was displayed during the 2019 Europa League final against Marseille.
Diego Simeone’s side head into the second-leg tie with Man City after suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat away at Mallorca in the Spanish top flight last weekend, while the Citizens played out an enthralling 2-2 draw with Premier League title rivals Liverpool.
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