September 9 – Norwegian side SK Brann have been hit with fresh UEFA sanctions just months after winning a landmark freedom of expression case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
UEFA has fined the Bergen club €7,500 for “UEFA mafia” chants during their Europa League qualifier against Häcken in August – and a further €10,125 after a paper cup was thrown onto the pitch.
The two penalties amount to €17,625 – around 207,000 kroner – and come on top of a €10,000 fine imposed earlier in the summer for similar chants against RB Salzburg, which Brann are appealing.
Chairman Aslak Sverdrup has expressed his frustration, noting that CAS ruled in March that UEFA was wrong to punish the club for the same slogan during Women’s Champions League matches.
In that case, Brann successfully challenged two earlier fines for chants and banners referencing “UEFA mafia” during ties against Barcelona and St. Pölten. Following that logic, you’d expect CAS to once again overturn the decision.
At the time, CAS found that UEFA’s disciplinary regulations must be interpreted in light of freedom of expression, agreeing with Brann that the phrase could be seen as satire or power-critical humour rather than a factual allegation. The court stressed that context matters, and that UEFA must demonstrate when and how the slogan crosses into the offensive or provocative territory.
“This verdict was delivered this spring. UEFA has to accept it. To continue issuing fines for the same thing is both surprising and unacceptable,” Sverdrup said.
Despite the CAS decision, UEFA has maintained that the expression is provocative and offensive. Further action may yet follow: UEFA has also notified Brann of a potential case linked to their home fixture against AEK Larnaca.
“We’ve been given notice regarding the Larnaca game, but no decision has been made yet,” club lawyer Jan Magne Isaksen confirmed.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]