Real Madrid Fined after a Supporter Caught Making a Nazi Salute

Real Madrid have been fined 15,000 euros (around $16,000) by UEFA along with a partial stadium closure after a fan was seen giving a Nazi salute moments before kickoff in a Champions League playoff against Benfica.

Real Madrid said after the home game on February 25, 2026 WIB that they immediately expelled the supporters from the stadium.

UEFA said on Friday, March 6, 2026, that the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Board had decided to punish the Spanish club for the racist and/or discriminatory behavior of supporters during the 2-1 victory over Benfica at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The closure of 500 seats for one match of a UEFA club tournament was suspended for a trial period of one year, during which other similar incidents would activate the closure.

In the first match between the two teams in Lisbon, striker Vinicius Junior accused him of being racially abused by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni.

Prestianni was then given a one-match ban while UEFA investigated the incident, a sanction that remained in place after an appeal from Benfica.

Benfica also suspended five of their supporters for making monkey gestures to Vinicius after Real Madrid's 1-0 win on February 18, 2026 WIB.

It is the second recent punishment handed down by UEFA following alleged Nazi salutes in Champions League matches.

Tottenham Hotspur were fined 30,000 euros after one of their supporters was proven to have made the move during the match against Eintracht Frankfurt.