体坛英语新闻：UEFA fine Barca for Catalan flags in Champions League final

MADRID, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The governing body of European football, UEFA on Thursday imposed a fine of 30,000 Euros (around 33,000 US dollars) as a result of the club' s fans flying flags in the final of the Champions League in favor of the Independence of the Catalan region in north-east Spain.

Thousands of Barcelona fans showed the flags, which are not illegal in Spain, during the Champions League final in Berlin, in which Barcelona defeated Juventus 3-1.

UEFA had previously warned the club about supporters flying the flags, which according to the organization breaks their rule 16.2, which states "clubs and associations are responsible for the inappropriate behavior of their supporters and can be the object of disciplinary measures, even though they can show they were not negligent in their organization of the game."

"The use of words or objects to transmit and message which does not fit in with sport, such as political, religion, or offensive or provocative words," can be punished.

Barca have so far failed to comment on the sanction, which is smaller than had been expected in some parts.