Club points to 'free speech' after CAS win vs. UEFA

Norwegian nine SK Brann claimed triumph for escaped code connected Sunday with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that they did not person to wage a good imposed by UEFA aft fans chanted "UEFA Mafia" and displayed banners with the aforesaid message.

European football's governing assemblage fined Brann €5,000 ($5,500) for "provocative messages of an violative nature" astatine a women's Champions League crippled and rejected an entreaty by the nine successful March past year.

Brann were fined connected different juncture arsenic good and the nine took the substance to the CAS which, they said, had agreed that UEFA's rules "must beryllium interpreted successful airy of cardinal quality rights specified arsenic state of expression."

"We are precise pleased with the ruling from CAS," Brann president Aslak Sverdrup said.

"It's not each time a nine from Norway moves each of shot Europe but contiguous we really do. In a satellite wherever state of code is nether attack, this is an important and close ruling."

Brann said the decisions taken by UEFA's disciplinary assemblage and its interior appeals assemblage had been acceptable aside.

"CAS agrees that the usage of the word 'UEFA Mafia' indispensable beryllium understood arsenic a notation to UEFA arsenic a closed radical of radical who workout important power implicit a circumstantial country of ​​society - that is, arsenic a satirical and power-critical statement," the nine said successful a statement.

"CAS agrees with Brann that this cannot beryllium considered violative oregon provocative, and truthful could not warrant fines against Brann."

Brann said UEFA had been ordered to wage the club's ineligible costs and a afloat verdict was expected adjacent week.

UEFA said it acknowledged receipt of the CAS grant of the good being acceptable speech but disagreed with Brann's speechmaking of the decision.

"In the contiguous case, successful nary mode has CAS affirmed that state of code could warrant that alleged 'fans' marque violative statements," UEFA said successful a statement.

"Moreover, CAS has confirmed that 'UEFA has the morganatic regulatory involvement of securing nationalist information and preventing upset oregon improper behaviour during a shot match'.

"UEFA's disciplinary bodies volition proceed to use their argumentation of zero tolerance against inappropriate behaviour to guarantee that UEFA matches are not the signifier for violent, racist oregon violative behaviours that are not acceptable for sports event."