Benfica to face heavy UEFA action after clashes with security in Barcelona game and flare show | OneFootball

Benfica could be in for severe sanctions from UEFA after their fans once again broke regulations on flares during their clash with Barcelona on Tuesday night. While the game was not stopped on Tuesday at Montjuic, there were more serious incidents, including clashes with security.

During the first leg at Estadio da Luz, referee Felix Zwayer stopped the game momentarily as smoke descended on the pitch from the flares set off by Benfica ultras. UEFA are already likely to fine Benfica for those incidents.

However that did not stop their traveling support setting off around 20 flares according to TV3. In images taken from below the away section, it can be seen how security staff move towards the Benfica fans to try and calm the situation and remove the flares. However the Benfica fans then clashed with said security staff, with one steward being assaulted, as the Portuguese contingent broke the security barrier keeping them contained.

Image via EFE

UEFA will wait on the report from match delegate Metin Kazancioglu before deciding how to proceed, but the likelihood is that Benfica will receive another more serious fine, and could even suffer a partial stadium closure as a result.

Barcelona are not alien to UEFA action themselves, often receiving fines for fans displaying Esteladas, flags supporting Catalan independence. Earlier in the season there was a much more serious incident though, where Nazi symbols were displayed during an away trip to AS Monaco, for which Barcelona were banned from selling tickets to their next away match at Crvena Zvezda.

That in turn sparked some of the tensions between the club and the singing section, which have been banned from Montjuic since earlier this season. Barcelona have demanded that they pay €21k in fines handed to the club as a result of insults coming from that area of the stadium, while the singing section say the individuals should be punished, not the collective.