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RSSAtletico to play in Empty Ground
The racist abuse by its fans against the opposing players is costing Atletico Madrid severe. They now have to have its next Champions League home match in an empty stadium. The punishment was imposed by UEFA on Friday after investigating the allegations that Atletico fans were racist and violent at an Oct. 1 match against French club Marseille. A UEFA appeal panel have decided that said Atletico must play Dutch club PSV Eindhoven at Vicente Calderon Stadium on Nov. 26 with no spectators present.
The penalty of playing a second match behind closed doors has however deferred for two years. But Atletico’s lawyer is in no mood to accept the verdict. Hehave said that said that the club would look at challenging the verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He feels that there is no enough proof to nail the club racist.
Atletico had earlier appealed a punishment to play two Champions League home matches at least 185 miles from Madrid. The decision by UEFA panel is taken after a hearing that lasted more than seven hours. The Mexican coach of Atletico, Javier Aguirre has been banned for the next two Champions League matches for insulting a Marseille player.The club also faces a fine of $191,000.
The decision comed after UEFA president Michel Platini has ordered a crackdown on racist and violent incidents on field. UEFA claims of a clear policy - zero tolerance of violence, racism or discrimination. According to Platini, no act that goes against the spirit of the game would be encouraged.
Atletico’s appeal had made UEFA to delay the original stadium ban, making it possible that the Oct. 22 game in Group D against Liverpool had played at Vicente Calderon. The English club had complained that its fans had already paid for flights and accommodations in Madrid and any such decision would result in huge losses fro them financially.
