Monterrey Could Face Sports and Financial Sanctions for Inappropriate Behavior of Some Fans
The second leg match between Rayados and Pachuca in the Apertura 2022 semifinals was marked by the misconduct of a section of Monterrey's fans, a team that could be forced to pay nearly 2 million pesos and play their first home games of the next tournament without spectators.
According to Article 48 of the Mexican Football Federation's 2022-23 Sanctions Regulations, Monterrey could face sports and financial sanctions for the inappropriate behavior of some fans at the 'Gigante de Acero' stadium, who lost control after the goal scored by Avilés Hurtado, a former player of Rayados, in the final moments of the match.
The Sanctions Regulations highlight that the "home club is responsible for the improper conduct of the Fan Groups and the general public attending the stadiums on the occasion of official and friendly matches" and states that "throwing objects into the stands, field or pitch" is considered improper conduct.
The Disciplinary Committee will be the body responsible for determining the punishment for Rayados, but the club should be prepared to pay a substantial fine and there is a significant possibility that they will start the next tournament without supporters in their stadium.
"The sanctions that the home club incurs due to improper conduct of the Fan Groups and the general public are warnings and/or fines from 200 to 20,000 UMAs, and/or stadium bans for one or more matches and/or any of the penalties established in Article 6 of these Regulations. In the case of more serious events and/or recurrence, the punishment may be increased as determined by the Disciplinary Committee," states the Sanctions Regulations.
If the Disciplinary Committee decides to fine Rayados with 20,000 UMAs, the management would have to pay MX$1,924,400.
Through its official Twitter account, the Liga MX condemned the behavior of a section of Rayados fans who threw objects onto the pitch after Hurtado celebrated his goal passionately from the penalty spot. In fact, the Colombian forward's celebration led to several players from the team led by Víctor Manuel Vucetich confronting him, and Hurtado had to be escorted to the dressing room by his teammates.
La LIGA MX reprueba el mal comportamiento en las tribunas del Estadio BBVA al finalizar el partido @Rayados vs. @Tuzos y solicita a la Comisión Disciplinaria tomar las medidas correspondientes con base en los reportes del cuerpo arbitral y el Comisario. pic.twitter.com/6KmXiIJzB4
— Liga BBVA MX (@LigaBBVAMX) October 24, 2022