UEFA open disciplinary case against Barça over discriminatory gestures

Following FC Barcelona’s 2-3 Champions League quarter-final first leg away win at Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, images subsequently surfaced on social media of a small number of Barça fans goading home supporters with racist gestures.

In the away sector of the Parc des Princes, two FC Barcelona supporters were captured on video making monkey gestures and Nazi salutes with the individuals later detained by French police on Wednesday with both men accused making an “apology for war crimes and public insults of a racist nature.”

French sports outlet L’Equipe now claim that UEFA has opened a disciplinary case against the Catalan club over the behaviour of the fans in the official away sector and the club could be hit with a number of sanctions which range from economic fines to having to partially close a sector of the temporary home of their Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys at a future UEFA match (potentially the semi-final, should Xavi’s side advance). A complete ban on away Barça fans should the club progress to the semifinal of the competition is another potential sanction facing the LaLiga side.

In a brief statement, the Parisian claimed: “The Parc des Princes is a gathering place open to all football enthusiasts. Against racism and all forms of discrimination, we are one team.”

FC Barcelona have yet to comment on the incident.