UEFA punishes Union fans with partial exclusion

After the anti-Semitic incidents in the Conference League game against Maccabi Haifa in the upcoming European Cup match, Union Berlin has to forego some of its fans. The European Football Union (UEFA) arranged for the duel against Feyenoord Rotterdam next Thursday (9:00 p.m.) to partially exclude the Berliners.

As a reason for the punishment, the UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee named “racist behavior” on the part of the Union supporters after its investigation. Sectors 13 and 14 in the Berlin Olympic Stadium, where the Köpenickers play their Conference League home games, are therefore blocked for the Feyenoord game. Instead, there should be a UEFA banner reading “#NoToRacism”.

At the home game against Maccabi Haifa on September 30, anti-Semitic incidents occurred in the stands. As the Berlin police reported, fans of the Israeli soccer champions were apparently insulted anti-Semitically during the game. In addition, a man is said to have tried to light a flag of Israel.

Union then identified a perpetrator and initiated an exclusion procedure and a ban from entering the home with immediate effect. In addition, Union announced a nationwide stadium ban for the perpetrator with the German Football Association (DFB). All the information available was also sent to the investigating state criminal investigation office, explained club president Dirk Zingler.