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http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200811/20081102/article_379138.htm
Atletico plans CAS appeal over stadium verdict
Created: 2008-11-2
ATLETICO Madrid will take its case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to dispute UEFA's decision to reduce its stadium ban to one match played behind closed doors, the Primera Liga club said on Friday.
In response to an appeal from Atletico earlier in the day, European soccer's governing body cut a two-match stadium ban to one played without spectators in the Champions League, but the Spanish club was not happy with the new ruling or the process.
"Atletico will fight for its innocence until the very end. There has been a reduction (in the punishment) but we don't agree with the manner in which the process has been conducted," director Clemente Villaverde told the club's Website.
"We will fight on to the next stage, CAS. They haven't given us the detailed legal basis for their decision yet. But there seems to be a change of emphasis with the committee now giving more importance to the racist chants."
Atletico had originally been ordered to play its next two European fixtures at least 300 km outside Madrid, with a home stadium ban for a third game if there was further trouble.
Atletico was punished after crowd problems marred its Champions League home match with Olympique Marseille on October 1, when UEFA said failures in the club's organization of the event led to confrontations between visiting fans and Spanish police.
The appeals body said Atletico would now have to play its next Group D home Champions League game, against PSV Eindhoven on November 26, behind closed doors.
A further match without spectators will be imposed for any further incidents that take place in the next two years.
The original sanctions were handed down following crowd trouble during its 2-1 win over Marseille, including alleged racist chanting by Atletico fans.
The club has denied charges of racism.
The appeals body upheld the two-match ban on Atletico coach Javier Aguirre, who was accused of insulting a Marseille player.
Aguirre will be barred from coaching his team during their Champions League game at Liverpool on Tuesday and the closed doors home game against PSV.
In response to an appeal from Atletico earlier in the day, European soccer's governing body cut a two-match stadium ban to one played without spectators in the Champions League, but the Spanish club was not happy with the new ruling or the process.
"Atletico will fight for its innocence until the very end. There has been a reduction (in the punishment) but we don't agree with the manner in which the process has been conducted," director Clemente Villaverde told the club's Website.
"We will fight on to the next stage, CAS. They haven't given us the detailed legal basis for their decision yet. But there seems to be a change of emphasis with the committee now giving more importance to the racist chants."
Atletico had originally been ordered to play its next two European fixtures at least 300 km outside Madrid, with a home stadium ban for a third game if there was further trouble.
Atletico was punished after crowd problems marred its Champions League home match with Olympique Marseille on October 1, when UEFA said failures in the club's organization of the event led to confrontations between visiting fans and Spanish police.
The appeals body said Atletico would now have to play its next Group D home Champions League game, against PSV Eindhoven on November 26, behind closed doors.
A further match without spectators will be imposed for any further incidents that take place in the next two years.
The original sanctions were handed down following crowd trouble during its 2-1 win over Marseille, including alleged racist chanting by Atletico fans.
The club has denied charges of racism.
The appeals body upheld the two-match ban on Atletico coach Javier Aguirre, who was accused of insulting a Marseille player.
Aguirre will be barred from coaching his team during their Champions League game at Liverpool on Tuesday and the closed doors home game against PSV.
Agencies
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