UEFA orders the partial closure of the Atlético de Madrid stadium

Atletico slip as Real look to meet 1:57 (CNN) — UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, ordered the partial closure of Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium for the second leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League against Manchester City this Wednesday as a sanction for the behavior of his supporters. During last week’s quarter-final first leg, Atlético were beaten 1-0 by City thanks to a 70th-minute goal from Kevin de Bruyne while their fans were accused of “discriminatory behaviour” and “throwing objects”. A goal from Kevin de Bruyne put City 1-0 up after the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final. According to reports from the Press Association, Atleti supporters were also filmed performing Nazi salutes during their team’s defeat. In response, the UEFA Appellate Body sanctioned the club by ordering “a sector of the stadium to be closed, which must comprise at least 5,000 seats”. Atlético de Madrid must also “display a banner with the text ‘#NoToRacism’, with the UEFA logo”. The sanction will reduce the capacity of the Wanda Metropolitano from 68,456 to 63,456. It is not the first time that UEFA uses a punishment of this type. In 2019 he ordered the partial closure of Lazio’s stadium after racist behavior by fans, while that same year Romania was forced to play an official UEFA match behind closed doors after its fans invaded the pitch, set off fireworks and throw objects. Atleti will be looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit to City as they seek to advance to the Champions League semi-finals, where they would face either Chelsea or Real Madrid.