Atlético Madrid recently won an appeal to overturn a two-game partial stadium ban that was imposed by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). This ban was a result of an incident where Athletic Club player Nico Williams suffered racist abuse during a league game between the two teams. In addition to overturning the ban, the RFEF’s Appeals Committee also annulled the €20,000 fine that was initially handed to Atlético by its Disciplinary Committee.
The incident that led to the ban took place during a LaLiga fixture between Atlético and Athletic on April 27. The game was stopped in the 36th minute by referee Juan Martínez Munuera as part of LaLiga’s protocol against racism after he heard abuse coming from the Wanda Metropolitano stands directed at Williams. Following the incident, Atlético took swift action to identify the perpetrator, who was a club member, and suspended him indefinitely.
According to the Appeals Committee, Atlético demonstrated maximum possible diligence in response to the incident. The ruling stated that the club deployed measures to prevent and react to the situation effectively. The active collaboration of the club, the identification of the responsible individual, and the isolated nature of the incident were all factors considered by the committee. They concluded that Atlético could not have done anything more to prevent the abuse.
Atletico Madrid is currently in fourth place in LaLiga with only four games remaining in the season. Despite the off-field issues, the team has continued to perform on the pitch. They are set to host Celta Vigo in their next match on Sunday. This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges that exist in football and the importance of taking a strong stance against racism in the sport. Atlético’s successful appeal demonstrates their commitment to addressing such issues promptly and effectively.
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