Real Madrid have been hit with a suspended partial stadium ban and a €30,000 fine after UEFA found the club guilty of ‘discriminatory behaviour’ during their Champions League play-off round victory over Manchester City.

Los Blancos comfortably eliminated the reigning Premier League champions with a 6-3 aggregate win, with Kylian Mbappe producing a stunning hat-trick in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. However, UEFA has now intervened following allegations of homophobic chants directed at City manager Pep Guardiola, a former Barcelona coach and long-time rival of Real Madrid.

In an official statement, UEFA confirmed the sanctions imposed on the club:

*”The UEFA Appeals Body has decided to fine Real Madrid CF €30,000. To order the partial closure of Real Madrid CF’s stadium (i.e. at least 500 adjacent seats) during the next match Real Madrid will play as host club, for the discriminatory behaviour of its supporters.

“Said partial stadium closure is suspended for a probationary period of two years, starting from the date of the present decision.”

This means that while the stadium closure will not take immediate effect, it remains a suspended punishment. If any similar incidents occur within the next two years, at least 500 seats at the Bernabéu will be closed for a future UEFA fixture.

The Allegations

According to Spanish outlet Marca, Madrid fans were recorded chanting: “Oh, Guardiola, you look so thin. First it was the drugs. Today you can see it in Chueca.”

Chueca, located in central Madrid, is known as the city’s LGBTQ+ district, and its reference in the chant has been interpreted as a discriminatory remark.

Broader Football Tensions

This UEFA sanction comes just days after La Liga itself took action against Manchester City, filing a complaint over alleged ‘financial irregularities.’ The Spanish league has accused the English club of receiving foreign subsidies from the United Arab Emirates, claiming these funds have artificially enhanced City’s financial power in the transfer market.

While the focus remains on the punishment handed to Real Madrid, tensions between Spanish and English football authorities continue to grow.