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Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
CAS rules Norwegian club Brann will not pay fine over ‘UEFA Mafia' chants and banners
CAS rules Norwegian club Brann will not pay fine over 'UEFA Mafia' chants and banners The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled that Norwegian club Brann will not have to pay a €5,000 ($5,480) fine for fans chanting 'UEFA Mafia' and displaying banners with the same message at a Women's Champions League match. Advertisement UEFA, European football's governing body, issued the fine to Brann for 'provocative messages of an offensive nature' during a match against St. Polten in January 2024, and rejected an appeal from the club in March last year. Brann subsequently lodged an appeal to CAS, who confirmed the ruling in a statement issued to on Monday, which read: 'The CAS Panel ruled by majority that, in view of the facts of this case, there was no breach of the UEFA regulations by the club and that the €5,000 fine issued by UEFA is annulled. 'As a consequence, the panel did not need to examine one of SK Brann's argument as to whether the disciplinary sanction was a justifiable incursion on the supporters' right of freedom of expression. Unless parties request confidentiality, a full award with grounds will be made available on the CAS website in due course.' UEFA, meanwhile, said in a statement on Sunday the fine was set aside 'only because of the truly extraordinary circumstances of the case and the thin evidentiary basis available.' Advertisement European football's governing body added they would continue to apply their policy of 'zero tolerance against inappropriate behaviour' so that matches under their jurisdiction would be free from 'violent, racist or offensive behaviours that are not fit for a sports event'. Brann chairman Aslak Sverdrup said in a statement the verdict made by CAS was 'important and correct' during a time in which he said 'freedom of expression is under pressure.' Brann said UEFA had been ordered to pay the club's legal costs, saying that cases around its usage must be taken 'in light of the context'. Jan Magne Isaksen, an attorney who represented Brann in the case, was quoted in the club's statement as saying the CAS verdict 'gives hope for an even better football future, with more openness and more democracy.' Advertisement A 'UEFA Mafia' slogan was displayed by Borussia Dortmund fans against Celtic in October, in protest against Champions League reforms. Dortmund supporters had previously displayed such banners against Newcastle United in the Champions League, while Marseille were fined for the same wording in the Conference League in 2022. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Champions League, Soccer, International Football, Sports Business, UK Women's Football, Europa League 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
07-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
CAS rules Norwegian club Brann will not pay fine over ‘UEFA Mafia' chants and banners
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled that Norwegian club Brann will not have to pay a €5,000 ($5,480) fine for fans chanting 'UEFA Mafia' and displaying banners with the same message at a Women's Champions League match. UEFA, European football's governing body, issued the fine to Brann for 'provocative messages of an offensive nature' during a match against St. Polten in January 2024, and rejected an appeal from the club in March last year. Advertisement Brann subsequently lodged an appeal to CAS, who confirmed the ruling in a statement issued to The Athletic on Monday, which read: 'The CAS Panel ruled by majority that, in view of the facts of this case, there was no breach of the UEFA regulations by the club and that the €5,000 fine issued by UEFA is annulled. 'As a consequence, the panel did not need to examine one of SK Brann's argument as to whether the disciplinary sanction was a justifiable incursion on the supporters' right of freedom of expression. Unless parties request confidentiality, a full award with grounds will be made available on the CAS website in due course.' UEFA, meanwhile, said in a statement on Sunday the fine was set aside 'only because of the truly extraordinary circumstances of the case and the thin evidentiary basis available.' European football's governing body added they would continue to apply their policy of 'zero tolerance against inappropriate behaviour' so that matches under their jurisdiction would be free from 'violent, racist or offensive behaviours that are not fit for a sports event'. Brann chairman Aslak Sverdrup said in a statement the verdict made by CAS was 'important and correct' during a time in which he said 'freedom of expression is under pressure.' Brann said UEFA had been ordered to pay the club's legal costs, saying that cases around its usage must be taken 'in light of the context'. Jan Magne Isaksen, an attorney who represented Brann in the case, was quoted in the club's statement as saying the CAS verdict 'gives hope for an even better football future, with more openness and more democracy.' A 'UEFA Mafia' slogan was displayed by Borussia Dortmund fans against Celtic in October, in protest against Champions League reforms. Dortmund supporters had previously displayed such banners against Newcastle United in the Champions League, while Marseille were fined for the same wording in the Conference League in 2022. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
Ammon
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Ammon
Norwegian club Brann win court ruling over fans' right to sing ‘Uefa mafia'
Ammon News - The Norwegian club Brann have won a landmark freedom of expression case with the court of arbitration for sport (Cas) ruling that Uefa should not have punished them for fans singing 'Uefa mafia' or displaying banners with the same message at Women's Champions League games. The European footballing body fined Brann on two separate occasions in 2024 with a third case pending. Uefa argued that the incidents were a breach of its regulations, which make clubs responsible for 'offensive statements of a provocative nature' from the stands. Brann took the first two cases to Uefa's appeals committee. The first one was rejected so in the autumn of 2024 Brann took the case to Cas, which on 31 March ruled in favour of the Norwegian club. Its written reasons will be released this week. 'We are very pleased with the ruling from Cas,' the president of Brann, Aslak Sverdrup, said. 'It's not every day a club from Norway moves all of football Europe, but today we actually do. In a world where freedom of speech is under attack, this is an important and correct ruling. 'SK Brann wish to thank those who have contributed to this case, especially Jan Magne Isaksen and Erlend Aarlien, our two lawyers, who have been solid throughout the entire process. We also wish to thank the supporter leader Erlend Vågane for the good co-operation, and our own football president Lise Klaveness for facilitating the meeting in Nyon and for being a clear voice in the debate. We also thank Uefa's administration for good dialogue in Nyon and London prior to the case.' Brann have argued that the message 'Uefa Mafia' is a humorous and power-critical statement that is well within the limits of freedom of expression. Brann also believe that meeting criticism or satire of powerful organisations such as Uefa with sanctions is fundamentally problematic. Uefa's view has been that the freedom of expression under the European Convention on Human Rights does not count in this case and that 'Uefa Mafia' must be interpreted as factual allegations that the organisation and its management and employees are part of an organised criminal organisation. This is offensive and provocative, according to Uefa. Cas, however, said the question of whether a statement is offensive or provocative must be interpreted in light of the actual context. Cas also agreed with Brann that Uefa's disciplinary regulations must be interpreted in light of fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression. Brann have therefore been acquitted of paying the fines to Uefa. Cas added that the use of 'Uefa Mafia' would not be acceptable in all cases but that it must be interpreted in the context of that statement being made and that Uefa must prove that any use of the slogan is offensive and provocative in the context. *theguardian
The Guardian
06-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Norwegian club Brann win court ruling over fans' right to sing ‘Uefa mafia'
The Norwegian club Brann have won a landmark freedom of expression case with the Court of Arbitration For Sport (Cas) ruling that Uefa should not have punished them for fans singing 'Uefa mafia' or displaying banners with the same message at Women's Champions League games. The European footballing body fined Brann on two separate occasions in 2024 with a third case pending. Uefa argued that the incidents were a breach of its regulations, which make clubs responsible for 'offensive statements of a provocative nature' from the stands. Brann took the first two cases to Uefa's appeals committee. The first one was rejected so in the autumn of 2024 Brann took the case to Cas, who on 31 March ruled in favour of the Norwegian club. Its written reasons will be released this week. 'We are very pleased with the ruling from Cas,' the president of Brann, Aslak Sverdrup, said. 'It's not every day a club from Norway moves all of football Europe, but today we actually do. In a world where freedom of speech is under attack, this is an important and correct ruling.' 'SK Brann wish to thank those who have contributed to this case, especially Jan Magne Isaksen and Erlend Aarlien, our two lawyers, who have been solid throughout the entire process. We also wish to thank the supporter leader Erlend Vågane for the good co-operation, and our own football president Lise Klaveness for facilitating the meeting in Nyon and for being a clear voice in the debate. We also thank Uefa's administration for good dialogue in Nyon and London prior to the case.' Brann have argued that the message 'Uefa Mafia' is a humorous and power-critical statement that is well within the limits of freedom of expression. Brann also believe that meeting criticism or satire of powerful organisations such as Uefa with sanctions is fundamentally problematic. Uefa's view has been that the freedom of expression under the European Convention on Human Rights does not count in this case and that 'Uefa Mafia' must be interpreted as factual allegations that the organisation and its management and employees are part of an organised criminal organisation. This is offensive and provocative, according to Uefa. Cas, however, said that the question of whether a statement is offensive or provocative must be interpreted in light of the actual context. Cas also agreed with Brann that Uefa's disciplinary regulations must be interpreted in light of fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression. Brann have therefore been acquitted of paying the fines to Uefa. Cas added that the use of 'Uefa Mafia' would not be acceptable in all cases but that it must be interpreted in the context of that statement being made and that Uefa must prove that any use of the slogan is offensive and provocative in the context.
