CAS ruled that Norwegian club Brann will not pay a fine for 'UEFA mafia' banners

It is quite common for chants and banners criticizing UEFA to be heard and displayed from the stands. The governing body of European football does not appreciate this, and clubs often face fines. However, as it turns out, sometimes these are unwarranted.

Details: During the Women's Champions League match against St. Pölten in January 2024, Brann fans displayed banners and chanted slogans like 'UEFA mafia.' The association valued this gesture by the Norwegian club at a fine of five thousand euros, which Brann appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The court sided with Brann. The press release states that "the panel did not need to consider one of Brann's arguments regarding whether the disciplinary sanction was a justified infringement on fans' right to freedom of expression," and thus the fine was annulled.

UEFA also reacted to the court defeat, stating that the fine was canceled "only due to the truly exceptional circumstances of the case and the scant evidence base."

Reminder: It was previously reported that as many as 7 Real Madrid players are at risk of suspension for the return match against Arsenal.