Atletico Madrid Halts Ticket Sales for Away Matches Following UEFA and RFEF Sanctions

TDT | Manama

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Atletico Madrid has announced that it will not sell tickets to season ticket holders for the next five away matches following penalties imposed by both UEFA and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The decision comes as part of the club’s response to recent sanctions over fan misconduct.

UEFA Sanction Over Racist Behavior

UEFA levied the first sanction after Atletico fans engaged in "racist discriminatory" behavior during their 4-0 Champions League defeat to Benfica. In addition to a €30,000 fine, the club faces a suspended ban on selling tickets to away fans for a future UEFA competition match. The club’s decision to halt ticket sales is a proactive step to prevent further incidents while identifying those responsible.

Partial Stadium Closure Penalty

Atletico Madrid is also dealing with a separate punishment from the RFEF, which ordered the club to play their next three home matches with partial stadium closures. This decision followed a heated match against Real Madrid earlier this month, during which items were thrown onto the pitch, causing the match to be suspended. The club faces a significant challenge in managing the fallout from these incidents.

Club Statement on Rebuilding Image

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Atletico Madrid emphasized the damage to its reputation caused by these events while acknowledging that the vast majority of its supporters have behaved impeccably. "The seriousness of the matter and the responsibility to look after the image of our club have forced the entity to take this measure while all those involved in such incidents are identified," the club said.

Atletico’s leadership has taken a firm stance to protect its image and fans while working to prevent further incidents from damaging the club’s standing in European and domestic football.