UEFA charges Atletico Madrid with 'discriminatory behavior' after Manchester City match

Atletico Madrid fell to Premier League club Manchester City 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League tie held at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, but the Spanish side was in headlines ahead of the weekend for reasons that had nothing to do with the game's outcome. 

As noted by Reuters and the Associated Press (h/t USA Today), UEFA has charged Atletico Madrid with "discriminatory behavior" after some of their fans allegedly threw objects and used Nazi salutes during the club's loss. BBC Sport adds that UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will "decide on the matter in due course."

The exact nature of UEFA's investigation isn't entirely clear, but Chris Slater of the Manchester Evening News wrote at least one man has been arrested on suspicion of yelling racist abuse during the match. Additionally, fan footage shows multiple Atletico supporters seemingly performing "what appeared to be Nazi salutes" during the contest. 

Greater Manchester Police have since confirmed a 32-year-old man was arrested for an alleged "racially aggravated public order offense." 

"It started straight away with them booing the taking of the knee," a City fan said of some Atletico supporters who reportedly booed when players dropped to a knee before kickoff as a silent protest against racist acts and words. "Then every time Raheem Sterling came down the side of the pitch near them they were booing him as well. Then they were also doing Nazi salutes. I have no doubt at all that's what they were doing. It wasn't just one or two I'd say it was a good 10% of the fans.

"I was just disgusted really. Maybe I'm a bit naïve but I like to think things like this just don't happen anymore. We have had issues like this in the past from certain other sets of fans but to see it with my own eyes was just awful. To see the most disgusting fascist symbol that you could do, it just made me feel sick." 

UEFA holds clubs responsible for the actions of supporters inside venues and could punish Atletico by having them play a future home game either behind closed doors or inside a partially filled stadium. No timetable for a verdict was announced Friday, but Atletico are set to host City for the second leg on Wednesday.