Barca won't appeal Uefa flag fine of €30,000

Barcelona have announced that they will not appeal Uefa's decision to fine them €30,000 over the display of pro-Catalan independence flags at the Champions League final.

Blaugrana president Josep Maria Bartomeu had promised to fight the sanction but the European champions are now hoping to resolve the matter in a meeting with the governing body

Blaugrana president Josep Maria Bartomeu had previously stated that the club were determined to fight the ruling, which related to the 3-1 win over Juventus in Berlin on July 6, arguing that while they respected the European governing body's decision, they did not agree with it.

However, Barca released on statement on Saturday revealing that they have opted against an lodging an official appeal, after being granted a meeting with Uefa to discuss the matter further to ensure that they will not be sanctioned again if their fans continue to display Catalan flags at European games.

"When the club became aware of a possible sanction from Uefa, legal staff worked on an appeal but, once sent to the governing body, it became clear that closing Camp Nou was a possible sanction and that there was a latent threat to the club," the Blaugrana statement read.

"However, the club then received the minimum financial penalty in the Uefa regulations, with no future threat of a stadium closure.

 

"This change was considered by the FC Barcelona as an important step in this appeal process.

"Still, the club informed Uefa immediately that it did not agree with the punishment, in defence of the right to freedom of expression of its members and fans, and wanted to ensure that these events would be reviewed to prevent the same punishment occurring in the future, since the club considered them unjust and disproportionate.

"The club considered it appropriate to continue fighting, in the most appropriate way, and informed Uefa of this.

"Before the deadline for filing the appeal, the European body accepted the fact that FC Barcelona did not resort to an appeal, in exchange for a work meeting for a diplomatic solution at the highest level, at the earliest possible date, which has yet to be determined.

"FC Barcelona is convinced that it must preserve their rights and the collective rights of its members and fans with all the power but with the right strategy."

Barcelona have long supported Catalunya's bid for independence from Spain, with the club considered a key component in the region's cultural identity.

However, under Uefa rules, supporters are forbidden from display flags, banners or messages of a political nature.