Bayern Munich Fined €116,000 and Faces Stadium Closure by UEFA

Bayern Munich has received a significant penalty from UEFA, totaling €116,000 (approximately $136,300), alongside a partial stadium closure for their upcoming Champions League home match. This decision was announced on December 17, 2023, following violations during a recent match against Sporting Lisbon, where fans obstructed public passageways and ignited fireworks.

As a result of these infractions, UEFA has mandated a partial closure of sectors 111 to 114 at the Allianz Stadium for Bayern’s next home fixture, scheduled against Union Saint-Gilloise on January 21, 2024. Additionally, Bayern faces another penalty involving the closure of the entire South Tribune for a future match, although this sanction is suspended for a probationary period of two years.

Alongside the penalties for the fireworks and obstruction, Bayern was also fined €40,000 after a loss to Arsenal last month, due to crowd disturbances and the throwing of objects. Another €30,000 fine was imposed for “transmitting messages not fit for a sports event.”

UEFA Disciplinary Actions Extend to Other Clubs

UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has also taken action against Eintracht Frankfurt, enforcing a previously suspended sanction that prohibits the club from selling tickets to away supporters for their next match. This decision follows disturbances caused by Frankfurt fans, who threw objects and ignited fireworks during their recent defeat at Camp Nou against Barcelona, which ended in a 2-1 loss.

Frankfurt has been fined a total of €38,000 and has been given 30 days to reach an agreement with Barcelona regarding damages incurred by their supporters in the away section toilets. The club’s next match is scheduled against Azerbaijani side Qarabag.

Other clubs have also faced penalties. Sporting Lisbon received a fine of €40,000 due to similar crowd-related issues, along with a ban on away tickets. Lille has been fined €10,000 and issued a suspended ticket ban for fireworks violations during their Europa League match against Young Boys. Additionally, Maccabi Tel-Aviv has been fined €20,000 for incidents of racist or discriminatory behavior by supporters during their Europa League encounter against VfB Stuttgart.

These disciplinary measures reflect UEFA’s ongoing commitment to maintaining order and safety at sporting events, ensuring that clubs adhere to established regulations and standards.