Real Madrid post statement as immediate ban issued after Benfica game
Real Madrid has released an official statement after a fan was spotted performing a offensive gesture during their Champions League fixture.
On Wednesday night, Champions League royalty Real Madrid booked their spot in the round of 16 with a 2-1 win over Benfica at the Bernabeu.
Following the disgusting racist comments made by Gianluca Prestianni during the first leg at Benfica, tensions were higher than ever during the match, with the home side desperate to progress.
Off the back of suffering the racial abuse in the first leg, Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior stepped up to score the Spanish side's second goal of the night, and third of the tie, with Aurelien Tchouameni scoring the other in the 3-2 aggregate win.
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But the match at the Bernabeu didn't go ahead without any controversy as Real Madrid were forced to remove one fan from the stands after he was seen doing a highly offensive gesture.
As reported by Spanish outlet Marca, a fan watching the match from the Grada Stands was caught by broadcast cameras performing the Nazi salute ahead of kick off.
Thankfully, Real Madrid security staff were able to quickly locate the fan, identify him and take him out of the stadium before the game even began.
Following the incident a disciplinary file has been opened against him immediately, with Real Madrid releasing a statement addressing the moment.
It read: "Real Madrid C. F. announces that it has urgently requested the club's Disciplinary Committee to initiate an immediate expulsion procedure for the member who was caught on television cameras performing the Nazi salute in the area where the Animation Stand is located, moments before the start of the match between Real Madrid and Benfica.
"This member was identified by the club's security staff moments after appearing on the broadcast and was immediately expelled from the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
"Real Madrid condemns this type of gesture and expression that incites violence and hatred in sports and society."
The club added that it will cooperate with all authorities in the investigation to ensure that this kind of behaviour isn't allowed to continue in the Bernabeu.
"There are the other things that happened in the stands that warrant stopping the match and ejecting those people . We don't see what's going on in the stands; some people might see it, but it happens when we're focused on the game," Thibaut Courtois explained before the match.
"There have to be other people in charge who take actio and the authorities should be called. As a society, we have to stop being so foolish."
Topics: Real Madrid, Champions League, Racism, Vinicius Junior, Football
Ben McCrum