Real Madrid lose case at CAS over fans targeting Pep Guardiola with homophobic chant

GENEVA: Real Madrid lost their appeal against UEFA at sports’ highest court after being fined for fans singing a homophobic chant at Pep Guardiola during a Champions League game against Manchester City.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judges decided the chant “was of a severe discriminatory nature … to be considered as far more serious and damaging than acceptable satire and banter.”
The court’s detailed verdict has now been published to explain the appeal dismissal by three judges dated April 14. Madrid had challenged a fine of 30,000 euros ($35,000) and a two-year probation order to close a small section of its stadium at one Champions League game.
When Madrid hosted Man City in February last year, some of their fans chanted that Guardiola was thin, took drugs and would be seen in the Spanish capital’s most gay-friendly neighborhood.

An expert witness at court linked this to suggesting the former Barcelona coach was “infected with HIV/AIDS,” the verdict stated.
Madrid’s lawyers suggested “expressions that are humorous, exaggerated or aimed at powerful institutions or public figures” should be analyzed in context.
Soccer’s troubled history
UEFA lawyers argued to CAS homophobia has “cast a long and deeply troubling shadow” over soccer.
“For decades, the sport has been marred by a culture of machismo, exclusion, prejudice, and hostility toward individuals based on their sexual orientation,” the European soccer body’s lawyers said.
“This persistent intolerance has impacted the personal and professional lives of countless players, coaches and fans and also led to tragic outcomes in the past,” UEFA said in the judges’ 38-page summary.
Real Madrid vs. UEFA legal fixtures
The appeal hearing was held in Lausanne,