UEFA TO REVIEW RULES THAT PROHIBIT FAN POLITICAL PROTESTS

[Bad Robot 21,513]

Not sure if this should be here or moved to the general section but I think it's pressure from Barcelona to give them a get out. I don't think the scum will have a get out though with their shite.

 

UEFA TO REVIEW RULES THAT PROHIBIT FAN POLITICAL PROTESTS: A VICTORY FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION? 

On a day where politics in football was thrashed once again into the spotlight, UEFA released a statement confirming that it was to review the flexibility of its current disciplinary regulations that provide a blanket ban on all political messages, at football matches, across European competitions. 

How did we reach this stage?

The current UEFA rules on political messages can be found under Article 16(2)(e) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations 2016 which state that all associations and clubs are liable for the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly messages that are of a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature. That same section applies strict liability whereby all associations and clubs are liable even in the event that they can prove the absence of negligence, on their part. 

As a result of those rules, many clubs and associations have been sanctioned for fans displaying political messages in some way or another, some of which include:-

FC Barcelona

Celtic FC (scum)

St Johnstone

Dundalk FC

Football Association of Albania

Football Association of Serbia

Beitar Jerusalem

St Etienne

Romanian Football Federation

Football Federation of Moldova

Legia Warsaw

Some clubs, such as FC Barcelona and Celtic FC whose stadiums have historically been a forum for political protest, have repeatedly received sanctions through the years for flying banners and flags (deemed to be political, by UEFA). This came to a head, however, in June 2016, when FC Barcelona received yet another sanction, for fans flying the Estelada flag (attached)

The Catalan Estelada flag has become a symbol of the independent movement in the Catalonia region and is regularly flown by Barcelona fans both at domestic and European fixtures. 

In July 2015, the club was fined €30,000 after the flag was flown at the Champions League final, in Berlin, against Juventus. This was followed by another fine of €40,000 in September 2015 when the flag was flown at a fixture against Bayern Leverkusen. However, in June 2016, the Spanish club was fined a whopping €150,000 for the flag being flown at fixtures with BATE Borissov and AC Roma, during the 2015/16 campaign. 

The fine in June 2016 appears to be the straw that broke the camel's back and FC Barcelona stated that they would do everything that they could to challenge UEFA's rules which they described as being "oppressed to the exercise of freedom of expression" and not modernising along with the game. As such, they appealed UEFA's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). 

At the preliminary hearing, the club reiterated the right to freedom of expression on behalf of its members and fans. They argued that the Estelada flags were not offending anyone and that UEFA's rules had to evolve along the assumption that the right to freedom of expression is allowed so long as it is carried out in a peaceful manner. 

The CAS is said to have been interested in the historical development of such symbols at the Nou Camp. However, no arbitrary decision was finalised as the club eventually dropped their appeal after being notified by UEFA that it would review the flexibility of its current rules on political messages in football.

In relation to the open case concerning the fixtures against BATE Borissov and AC Roma, it is understood that FC Barcelona and UEFA will follow a special procedure to resolve the matter in a mutually satisfactory manner. Therefore fines are likely still to be paid, in relation to those breaches, albeit probably reduced.

**It is worthwhile noting that the Spanish club was also involved in a legal battle with the Spanish Government over the Estelada flag being displayed, by fans, at the Copa Del Rey Final. The Spanish Court, however, found in favour of the club and fans were allowed to fly the flag.**

The UEFA Statement

As discussed, UEFA released a statement on 19 December 2016 advising that it was to review the flexibility of its Disciplinary Regulations in relation to political messages. The governing body stressed that presently, there is little scope for the disciplinary bodies to depart from the established rules and as such, the rules must be enforced as they stand, including with respect to the existing prohibition of political type messages at football matches. 

The governing body thereafter went on to say the following:

"At the same time, UEFA recognises that rules of this nature are not "set in stone" and that they can, and should, evolve to reflect the nature of the society in which we live, where freedom of expression is generally a value to be supported and cherished. 

While UEFA does not want football matches to be used for the purposes of political demonstrations, it also would have no wish to sanction any club or national association in situations where no reasonable person could object to, or be offended by, a particular message conveyed at a football match.

Consequently, UEFA is also happy to re-examine the precise scope of its existing Disciplinary Regulations in order to ensure that, if and when any sanction is to be imposed, this only happens in circumstances and cases where the majority of reasonable people think that a sanction should be imposed.

With this in mind, UEFA will also establish a working group, involving both clubs and national associations, to review the disciplinary framework and which will make appropriate recommendations."

One of the key points to take from the UEFA statement is that the governing body is still adverse to political messages being conveyed at football matches and cases will still fall foul if it can be shown that the 'reasonable person' could be offended. However, cases are likely to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with strict liability no longer applying, where political messages are concerned. This demonstrates that the governing body is attempting to strike a fair balance between it's position on political messages and the right to freedom of expression. 

Going forward, in determining whether a case falls foul of its disciplinary regulations, the statement indicates that UEFA will adopt the 'reasonable man' test which will allow clubs and associations to put forward a defence which will include arguments for why the political message/symbol/flag conveyed should not be considered as offensive. In considering those defences, the governing body will likely take into account not only the general public perception but also the clubs' opponents, during the fixture that the message was conveyed and whether those fans were likely to be offended, in the circumstances. 

Another positive is the implementation of the working group which will allow detailed discussions to be held with clubs and national associations and thereafter, for recommendations to be put forward in amendment of the rules. This development will allow clubs the opportunity to discuss not only their own difficulties experienced with the regulations (some of which may differ from Barcelona's experiences) but also the history of their own club/symbols and the general fan movement. You will note that Barcelona's argument to the CAS centred around not only their fans freedom of expression but also the history of the symbols entrenched at the Camp Nou. 

The UEFA statement, confirming the decision to review freedom of expression, was released (perhaps strategically) on the very same day that FIFA fined the four home nations for poppy displays at World Cup qualifying matches, that remembered the nations' war dead, the decision of which created a lot of debate globally, as well as in the UK. Ultimately, whatever side of the fence you're on, the recent development from UEFA is likely to result in increased fan freedom to make political protests at football games or at the very least, result in less severe sanctions for clubs and national associations. Once recommendations are adopted and new rules implemented, it will be interesting to see how the initial wave of cases are determined (including those messages unrelated to the fixture in question and those deemed not to be local political messages) and whether other governing bodies, such as FIFA, will follow suit.

IMPORTANT: This post is not intended to be a legal briefing, it is not intended to be a statement of the law and no action should be taken in reliance on it without specific legal advice.

[BridgeIsBlue 66,838]

Why St Johnstone? 

[K.A.I 36,183]

Makes sense ... their friends in UEFA must be at the point where a ban or stadium closure is the next step so change the rules instead...

If we had ons set of balls between the custodians in charge they could successfully defend any singing of the Billy Boys in future as political too to fit in with the new rules. No laughing at the back there. 

[Gaz52 11,837]

LOUD NOISES

[Bad Robot 21,513]

5 minutes ago, Gaz52 said:

LOUD NOISES

sorry about that lol 

[Mr Soprano 13,964]

15 minutes ago, BridgeIsBlue said:

Why St Johnstone? 

Held up Palestine flags etc.

[the brown brogue 1,964]

In other words the dhims have cosied up to their speshul relations at barca and found a sympathetic ear at UEFA to fight their corner.

They'll probably be paid back every penny of every fine they've ever received plus a victims surcharge.

[BridgeIsBlue 66,838]

17 minutes ago, Mr Soprano said:

Held up Palestine flags etc.

Well Paisley is twinned with the gaza strip to be fair.

[Corky True Legend 2,682]

2 minutes ago, BridgeIsBlue said:

Well Paisley is twinned with the gaza strip to be fair.

What has Paisley got to do with St Johnstone?

[BridgeIsBlue 66,838]

Just now, Corky True Legend said:

What has Paisley got to do with St Johnstone?

Absolutely bugger all.

[ForeverAndEver 74,031]

11 minutes ago, Corky True Legend said:

What has Paisley got to do with St Johnstone?

The same Perth has to do with Palestine.

[Essandoh 21,893]

18 minutes ago, BridgeIsBlue said:

Well Paisley is twinned with the gaza strip to be fair.

I'd rather a night out in the Gaza Strip.

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

It's Christmas I'm just going to laugh at the whole absurdity of this. ????

[plumbGER 24,518]

Well Paisley is just next to Johnstone.

[WGOH 2,344]

The tarriers were probably protesting for an independent Catalonia with their best buddies Barca. 

 

[scottyscott1963 19,168]

53 minutes ago, Mr Soprano said:

Held up Palestine flags etc.

You can bet the cunt who held up that flag had a name along the lines of declan o'summit  

[ritchieshearercaldow 22,446]

There is a difference between Barca fans showing support for independence in their own country and the filth supporting a foreign country's ambition to subvert the will of the people in a part of their land mass, if they want to sing their songs they'll need to relocate back to the IR.

[dummiesoot 16,285]

I get the Barcelona thing, they are Catalonian afterall. The mhanky on the other hand are a bunch of needy, bandwagon jumping  cunty-faced, sleekit bastards and should NOT get away with their shit.

[crazybawz 15]

Good, means I'm just making a political statement when I use the word fenian.

[Sparkle 54,649]

47 minutes ago, dummiesoot said:

I get the Barcelona thing, they are Catalonian afterall. The mhanky on the other hand are a bunch of needy, bandwagon jumping  cunty-faced, sleekit bastards and should NOT get away with their shit.

Exactly that. It's mostly other people's 'causes' that they attach themselves to - always in the full glare of publicity of course (otherwise the ambulance chasing twats wouldn't bother)

[Corky True Legend 2,682]

If UEFA ban the Catalan flag, will they not also have to ban the St. Andrew's Cross?

[Bad Robot 21,513]

23 minutes ago, Corky True Legend said:

If UEFA ban the Catalan flag, will they not also have to ban the St. Andrew's Cross?

Or that shitey ROI flag

[Senex 20]

It was a shite nannying idea from the start which hit its top-level of stupidity a few years back when the UEFA fuckwits were dishing out the same level of fines for flags as they were for some Easter-European shitehole throwing bananas and doing monkey noises for 90 minutes.

Can't very well make the argument that every cunt should be able to sing whatever the fuck they like at the game if you're going to turn round and greet about some toothless mhank waving a flag from the 'Big Bad No Allowed' List drawn up by some clueless Swiss fanny.

[Guest]

They love to associate themselves with the likes of Barca and other left wing groups,  don't remember Barca supporting terrorist groups tho

[Howsitgoing 4,281]

"One of the key points to take from the UEFA statement is that the governing body is still adverse to political messages being conveyed at football matches and cases will still fall foul if it can be shown that the 'reasonable person' could be offended. However, cases are likely to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with strict liability no longer applying, where political messages are concerned."

I think  it's reasonable to presume that an Israel supporter could be offended by a group of deluded pedophiles harbouring terrorist supporting scum bags shouting "child killers" and waving a flag supporting a group that is sending untold misery to their country through constant bombardment of missiles. 

This has fuckall to do with what's happening at Barcelona, the quicker this scummy bastardised football club is disbanded the better.