Athletic Club have been fined €9,000 by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after their supporters chanted offensive slurs towards Barcelona during the final game of the 2024–25 La Liga season at San Mames. The match, which ended in a 3–0 win for Barcelona, was marred by repeated chants of “Puta Barca” from the home fans, a phrase that translates roughly to “F*** Barca” in English.
The RFEF’s Disciplinary Committee ruled that these chants went beyond the limits of football rivalry and entered into what they described as “expressions of hatred that incite violence.” According to the federation, this kind of language is not just about taunting a rival team but reflects a deeper level of hostility that cannot be tolerated. In their official statement, the committee clarified that the repeated use of such derogatory terms amounts to an outright rejection of certain groups and must be treated seriously.
This is not the first time Athletic Club have found themselves in hot water over crowd behavior. Earlier this year, UEFA fined the Basque club €50,000 following incidents involving fans during their Europa League semi-final clash against Manchester United. They also received a €30,000 fine last season due to unrest during a game against Roma.
In response to the most recent sanction, Athletic Club issued a statement acknowledging the fine and reiterating the RFEF’s reasoning. The club quoted the federation’s description of the chants as going “beyond simple expressions of displeasure,” emphasizing that such language, due to its literal meaning and impact, promotes animosity and potentially violent sentiments. The club has not indicated whether they plan to appeal the ruling.
Looking ahead, Athletic are preparing for a busy season, with three matches against Barcelona already confirmed, including a Super Cup semi-final clash in Saudi Arabia. However, their pre-season form suggests there’s still work to be done on the pitch, after suffering back-to-back defeats to Liverpool. Additionally, a move for defender Aymeric Laporte has been delayed due to a hamstring injury, prompting the club to consider experienced free agent Cesar Azpilicueta as a short-term solution.
