German football giants Bayern Munich have been hit with significant financial and sporting sanctions by UEFA following incidents involving their supporters during a Champions League match.
UEFA Disciplinary Action Details
European football's governing body has imposed a £102,000 fine on the club. More consequentially, it has ordered a partial closure of the Allianz Arena for their next home fixture in the competition. This punishment stems from Bayern fans setting off fireworks inside the stadium during their group stage match against Sporting CP earlier this month.
The club was also charged with the blocking of public passageways during the same fixture. As a result, UEFA has enforced a previously suspended penalty, which will see sectors 111 to 114 of the Allianz Stadium closed for Bayern's next Champions League home game. This match is scheduled against Union Saint-Gilloise on 21 January.
Further Sanctions and Probation
In a separate but related ruling, UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body handed Bayern an additional suspended sanction. The entire South Tribune of the stadium is slated for closure for a subsequent match, but this penalty is suspended for a two-year probationary period.
This recent punishment adds to a costly period for the Bundesliga champions. Following their away defeat to Arsenal last month, the club was fined a further £61,000 for separate incidents. These included £35,000 for crowd disturbances and objects being thrown, and £26,000 for the display of messages deemed unfit for a sports event.
Other German Club Also Sanctioned
UEFA's disciplinary body was also active concerning another German side, Eintracht Frankfurt. The club has been banned from selling tickets to its away supporters for its next European match. This sanction, previously suspended, was enforced after Frankfurt fans threw objects, lit fireworks, and caused damage to Barcelona's Camp Nou during a 2-1 defeat last week. Their next away fixture is against Azerbaijani side Qarabag.
Frankfurt received a £33,000 fine and were given 30 days to contact FC Barcelona to settle claims for damages caused by their supporters, specifically related to toilets in the away section.
These series of rulings underscore UEFA's continued hardline stance against fan misconduct, particularly involving pyrotechnics and stadium safety breaches, with clubs facing severe financial and operational consequences for the actions of their supporters.
