Bayern Munich supporters will be absent from the away leg of their Champions League quarter-final match due to a ban imposed after fans ignited fireworks during their 3-1 victory against Lazio earlier this month, the club announced on Tuesday.
The decision follows UEFA’s fine of 40,000 euros against Bayern for a similar incident in October when fans set off fireworks during their 2-1 win at Copenhagen. Bayern had already received a suspended one-match ban from purchasing away tickets in December, which was activated due to the Lazio incident.
Bayern Munich stated they would not contest UEFA’s ruling. Jan-Christian Dreesen, the club’s CEO, expressed disappointment, acknowledging that the use of pyrotechnics directly endangered others, making an appeal futile.
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Dreesen lamented the repercussions, acknowledging the blow of playing without the support of their fans. He emphasized that the actions of a small group of individuals tarnished the reputation of all supporters and the team.
Despite the setback, Bayern advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals after defeating Lazio 3-1 on aggregate. The draw for the quarter-finals is scheduled for Friday, with the first legs set for April 9-10 and the second legs for April 16-17.