Court reverses ruling that closed some soccer seats as punishment for Nazi salute

By AP 13 April 2022, 5:46 pm

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Atletico forward Antoine Griezmann, left, Atletico midfielder Thomas Partey, and Barcelona's Sergio Busquets, right, vie for the ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday April 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Atlético Madrid won’t have to close a section of its stadium for the Champions League game against Manchester City today after a court blocks UEFA’s punishment for Nazi salutes by a fan.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s interim ruling comes hours before Atlético hosts the second-leg game in the quarterfinals and will allow about 5,000 ticket-holders to retain their seats.

Atlético had appealed to challenge a UEFA decision Monday ordering the club to close part of its 68,000-capacity Wanda Metropolitano Stadium as punishment for “discriminatory behavior” at the first leg in Manchester last week.

The Atlético fan was filmed making a Nazi-style gesture during the team’s 1-0 loss.

CAS cites “serious repercussions to local security if the partial stadium closure had to be enforced at this late stage.”

The court grants Atlético’s request for an interim ruling freezing the UEFA sanction pending a full hearing in the case.

Atlético says in a statement that “all members and fans with a season ticket or seat for tonight’s game will be able to access the stadium.”