Atlético opts to not sell tickets to some fans following fines

Spanish club Atlético de Madrid will not sell tickets to some of its suppers for the next five matches, after it received two sanctions from the Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) Competition Committee and the UEFA Appeals Committee.

The club has decided not to sell tickets to fans in the Animation Stand (la Grada de Animación) of its home ground, Riyadh Air Metropolitano, following two separate incidents. This is traditionally where the club’s ultras are located.

Atlético said the decision was motivated “by the two series sanctions that the club has received in recent days as a result of different incidents involving a small minority of fans”.

The club was recently fined €30,000 (£25,000/$33,000) and given a suspended ban from selling tickets to away supporters for its next next UEFA Champions League match. This was the result of fans’ behaviour during Atlético’s 4-0 loss against Benfica earlier this month.

This followed an order from the Spanish Football Federation for the club’s next three home matches to have a partial stadium closure after Atletico’s match against Real Madrid was suspended. The RFEF’S Competition Committee reduced this punishment to one match on appeal. 

In a statement, Atlético said: “The damage that has been caused to the image of Atlético de Madrid and its fans, who in their vast majority have had exemplary behaviour, is difficult to repair. The seriousness of the matter and the responsibility to ensure the image of our club has forced the entity to take this measure while identifying all those involved in these incidents. 

“The club is aware that this measure may be unfair to the vast majority of fans who have behaved correctly, but it has been forced to take it in an exceptional way, trusting that it will help in the process of eradicating this type of attitude.”

However, Atlético could still face further sanctions from the Spanish Government’s Anti-Violence Committee, which has proposed a two-week closure of Riyadh Air Metropolitano along with a fine of €65,000.

Atlético’s decision will affect LaLiga games against Real Betis, Unió Esportiva Vic and RCD Mallorca, and Paris Saint-Germain and Sparta de Praga in the UEFA Champions League. These matches all fall between October 27 and November 26.