The reaction of the Real Madrid fan expelled for fascist gestures against Benfica in the Champions League
The club issued an official statement regarding what happened and his subsequent expulsion from the stadium.
The Champions League clash at the Santiago Bernabéu between Real Madrid and Benfica was supposed to be a night of elite football, but it quickly devolved into an international scandal. After a video went viral showing a fan performing a Nazi salute in the stands, the club acted swiftly to identify and expel the individual.
However, the story took a bizarre turn when the fan released a video defense that has left the football world—and social media—in a state of disbelief.
The fan, who identified himself as "Toni" from Huelva, took to social media to offer his version of the events. Instead of quiet contrition, his explanation sparked a new wave of criticism for being what many consider a tone-deaf and farcical attempt at damage control.
The "Friendship" Defense
Toni denied any connection to extremist ideologies, claiming the gesture was simply a "habitual" part of his cheering style and carried no political weight. To prove he wasn't a radical, he cited several aspects of his personal life, including:
- Having gay friends.
- His regular attendance at the El Rocío religious pilgrimage.
- Having family friends of African descent.
While he intended these as proof of his character, most observers viewed them as a hollow defense that failed to address the gravity of using a symbol of genocide in a public forum.
The "Gin" Excuse That Went Viral
The moment that truly broke the internet was Toni's claim regarding the word "Nazi" itself. In a statement that left pundits speechless, he asserted that he had no idea what the historical meaning of the word was.
"Until yesterday, I honestly thought 'Nazi' was a brand of gin," he claimed in the video.
The backlash was instantaneous. Social media was flooded with reactions ranging from mockery to pure indignation, as few believed a grown man in 2026 could be that disconnected from world history.
The Hammer Falls: Real Madrid’s Zero Tolerance
Real Madrid didn't wait for the debate to settle. Following their strict policy against hate speech and discriminatory behavior, the club moved to:
- Revoke his membership (socio) immediately.
- Issue a permanent ban from the Santiago Bernabéu.
- Collaborate with authorities for potential administrative fines.
The club was clear: these gestures do not represent the values of the institution or its global fanbase. By acting fast, the board also hoped to get ahead of UEFA, which is notoriously strict regarding fascist symbols and could have imposed heavy sanctions on the club itself.
A Forced Apology
By the end of his video, Toni offered a public apology, though even that felt reluctant. He admitted he "had no other choice" but to apologize, acknowledging that the club had to take action and that "someone had to pay" for the scale of the scandal.
While the fan may have thought a quirky excuse would save his reputation, the Bernabéu has made it clear: there is no room for "habitual" hate symbols, regardless of what brand of gin you prefer.
