FC Barcelona will appeal against UEFA fine for showing pro-independence flags

UEFA’s decision of fining FC Barcelona 40,000 euros for the presence of Catalan Independence flags at Camp Nou during the Champions League’s match, has outraged the club. ‘We will never tell our members and fans to not express their opinion’ the FC Barcelona vice president, Jordi Mestres commented to the media. ‘We will appeal against the decision, and if necessary, we will take legal advice’ he stated, at his arrival in Minsk this Tuesday, where FC Barcelona has a duel against BATE Borisov. This is not the first time that UEFA fines FC Barcelona for showing pro-independence flags during a match; at the Champions League final on the 6 June the club was sanctioned with a 30,000 fine for the same reason.

The vice-president Jordi Mestre, after having arrived in Minsk on Tuesday, gave his opinion on UEFA’s decision to fine FC Barcelona for the presence of Catalan Independence flags at Camp Nou during the game against Bayer Leverkusen. “We are surprised. We will appeal against the decision, and if necessary, we will take legal advice. We will battle until the end and we do not understand why UEFA would treat us like this for something that does not incite violence,” said Mestre.

The vice president responsible for the sporting area made it clear that this Monday’s decision was not a popular one at the Club. He continued: “There is not a war with UEFA but we are defending the interests of our Club. We have always had a very respectful and well behaved set of fans. We would never tell our members and fans not to express their opinion.”

With regards to the first fine for the presence of Catalan Independence flags at the Champions League final on the 6 June, Mestre said, “we had a series of conversations with UEFA executives that came to nothing. If necessary we will take legal advice,” he insisted.