Did Real Madrid hand out 1,500 whistles before Wolfsburg match

UEFA is investigating whether Real Madrid handed out whistles at the Wolfsburg game last week at the Bernabéu. The atmosphere at the game was reminiscent of the club’s biggest ever European nights, and from the start the chants, the banners and the support from the stands gave the feeling that there was every chance of turning around the 2-0 first leg deficit.

What was truly incredible though was how loud the stadium was when Wolfsburg had the ball: a deafening whistling filled the ground every time the visitors had possession. And the whistles were too loud, and too sharp to be made with a human mouth. Mainly because they weren't - UEFA representatives asked Real Madrid during the match if the club had helped the fans in the grada de animación, the stand where the liveliest fans are meant to sit, bring in the 1,500 whistles UEFA reckon were used to make the deafening noise.

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The white whistles were given out, with string neatly attached, to the fans in this section, and many supporters and members of the security team were left with headaches due to the intense noise they produced. And over and above that, whistles aren’t permitted in football stadiums because they can be confused with the ref’s whistle.