SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Barcelona withdraw appeal over fines for pro-Catalan flags

ZURICH (Reuters) - Barcelona have agreed to withdraw an appeal against fines imposed by UEFA last year after their supporters waved pro-Catalan independence flags at two matches, European soccer's governing body said on Monday.

Barcelona withdraw appeal over fines for pro-Catalan flags
(Reuters)

2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters


Skip to article content

In return, UEFA will consider loosening rules which prohibit the display of any flags or banners with political connotations, saying such regulations needed to evolve to respect "freedom of expression".

UEFA said in a statement that it would set up a working group to review its disciplinary framework so that clubs are punished only "in circumstances and cases where the majority of reasonable people think that a sanction should be imposed".

Barcelona appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after they were twice fined over the flags, known as esteladas, last year.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

UEFA fined them 30,000 euros (25,231 pounds) after supporters waved the flags during the 2015 Champions League final in Berlin and another 40,000 euros for similar incidents in a tie against Bayer Leverkusen.

The disciplinary board ruled the club had breached regulations which prohibit "the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly messages that are of a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature".

On Monday, UEFA said Barcelona had recognised that disciplinary bodies had little scope to depart from established rules which had to be enforced "including with respect to the existing prohibition of political type messages at football matches."

However, the organisation added that the rules were not "set in stone".

"They can, and should, evolve to reflect the nature of the society in which we live, where freedom of expression is generally a value to be supported and cherished," said UEFA.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world