Arsenal have been handed a fine by UEFA, but the response to the Gunners’ creative solution to the ‘North London Forever’ problem is still pending.
Tom Canton reports for Football.London that Arsenal have been fined by UEFA for lighting fireworks in the away end during their match away to Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsenal’s late equaliser was celebrated by the lighting of a flare in the upper tier of the BayArena, with UEFA prohibiting the use of fireworks and flares by supporters.
The Gunners have been fined £1,945 for the incident, although it’s somewhat unclear how Arsenal were meant to prevent the flare getting into the stadium. Leverkusen officials were the ones searching fans at the gate.
Sporting CP have also been handed a fine for their subsequent match against Arsenal, with their supporters punished for throwing objects in the first leg of the quarter-final tie. Sporting have been fined £2,382 in that case.
And there could be further fines on the way for both Sporting and Arsenal following the second leg.
Sporting fans lit flares and threw more objects onto the pitch, so they could be set for a double fine when the second leg is reviewed. Then it’s unclear whether or not Arsenal will be fined for playing “The Angel (North London Forever)” before the game.
Arsenal have previously played the song before the Champions League anthem, as UEFA prohibit any songs being played after the Champions League music in the build-up to kick-off.
But the Gunners played a few seconds of The Angel after the Champions League anthem and prior to kick-off ahead of the Sporting CP second leg, allowing fans to sing the rest unaccompanied.
It’s the same approach Sporting took to their pre-match song prior to the first leg, and Sporting have seemingly avoided any punishment for doing so. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will be treated differently.
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