Madrid Gets Tiny Fine For Fascist Fans

• Reuters, Wednesday, January 21, 2009 1:30 PM

Real Madrid has been fined a risible $3,900 by the Spanish sootball federation after a group of its fans were reported by a referee for making fascist gestures and chanting fascist slogans during last weekend's home game with Osasuna.

Referee Alfonso Perez Burrull said in his report that some Real fans were waving flags and banners with "extremist or radical symbolism." He also referred to "chants making reference to the gas chamber, death to Osasuna, and fascists forever," and said they were accompanied by gestures and signs "of a fascist nature."

A Federation spokesman said Real had been punished for breaching a rule aiming to prevent xenophobia and intolerance. Its fine equals the one handed out Sevilla to striker Frederic Kanoute earlier this month after he revealed a shirt with the word "Palestine" on it in several languages after scoring in a Copa del Rey game.

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