UEFA has launched an investigation into the racist chants alleged to have occcurred at the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
During the Group B game at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, fans were seen making Nazi salutes while racist chanting was heard, directed at Leverkusen’s black players. However, neither incident was included in the reports from the referee and the match delegate.
“Fans were seen making Nazi salutes while racist chanting was directed at Leverkusen’s black players,” said Uefa.
After studying the television footage, UEFA will decide whether to punish the home side.
Last week FIFA, the world governing body, launched an investigation after England’s black players were taunted during an international friendly with Spain in the same stadium.
Meanwhile, England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson urged Europe’s governing body to make a stand.
“Uefa have a golden opportunity to do something strong. It’s a good example and I think something will happen,” he said.
Asked about the possibility of players walking off the pitch when faced by racial abuse, Eriksson said: “I never considered it during the game in Spain.
“But if that is a possibility in future I should like that. But there must be clear rules when you can do it and what happens if you do go off.
“Just say you are winning 1-0 and there was some chanting and you decided to go off the pitch, what happens? Who gets the points?
“I don’t know but Fifa and Uefa can make strong rules now because of what happened in Spain.”
Uefa spokesman William Gaillard, said there were no set rules regarding punishment for incidents such as those seen at the Bernabeu.
“It could range from making the team play away or behind closed doors, to even the exclusion of the team,” he said.
“There is no standard punishment for a particular type of offence. It depends on what is reported and previous cases.”
