Atlético Madrid told to partially close stand after racist abuse of Nico Williams
Atlético Madrid have been ordered to partially close their south stand for two matches by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after Athletic Club player Nico Williams suffered racist abuse in Saturday’s La Liga game.
The referee, Juan Marténez Munuera, stopped the match in the 36th minute as part of La Liga’s protocol against racism after he heard racist abuse directed at the 21-year-old Spain international, who was born in Pamplona to Ghanaian parents.
Atlético have also been fined €20,000 (£17,000). They have 10 days to appeal.
The RFEF said in a statement on Tuesday that the closed area in the stands must display a visible message condemning violent, racist, xenophobic and intolerant acts in football and supporting fair play.
A few minutes after he was abused, Williams scored and ran in front of the south stand tapping his arm in reference to his skin colour. After the match, which Atlético won 3-1, he told Dazn: “There are stupid people everywhere but nothing happens, we have to keep fighting so this changes little by little.“
The incident was the latest in a series of episodes that have fuelled the debate around racism in and around Spanish football. There have been 16 incidents of racist abuse against Real Madrid’s Brazil winger Vinícius Júnior reported to Spanish prosecutors by La Liga in the last two seasons.
Earlier this month, Spanish TV station Movistar Plus+ fired analyst Germán Burgos after Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain refused to give interviews to the network following a comment which was interpreted as racist about Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
Atlético have been approached for comment.