UEFA Fines Real Madrid 15,000 Euros for Fan Nazi Salute

UEFA has fined Real Madrid 15,000 euros and imposed a suspended partial stadium closure following an incident in which one of the club's supporters performed a Nazi salute before a Champions League playoff match against Benfica.

The gesture occurred in the Grada Fans section of the lower south stand at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on February 25, ahead of Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Benfica in the second leg of their playoff tie. The win secured a 3-1 aggregate triumph, advancing the Spanish club to the last 16, where they will face Manchester City in the first leg on Wednesday.

UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body announced the sanctions on Friday, citing racist and or discriminatory behavior by supporters. The partial closure affects 500 adjacent seats in the lower south stand and applies to one UEFA competition match, but it has been suspended for a one-year probationary period. As a result, the section will remain open for the upcoming game against Manchester City.

Club security staff identified the individual shortly after footage of the salute surfaced on broadcast, leading to the fan's immediate ejection from the stadium. Real Madrid stated that it...