Espanyol will be able to count on the support of their fans in their second game at their stadium in the Second Division, on September 3 against Amorebieta. The Appeals Committee has partly upheld the blue and white club's appeal and has reduced the closure of the Stage Front Stadium from two games to one. It all stems from the partial invasion of the field that occurred in the derby on May 14, when a group of Espanyol radicals stormed onto the pitch while the Barça players celebrated winning the League championship.
On June 29, the investigating judge appointed by the Competition Committee proposed a punishment of two closed-door matches against Espanyol and a fine of 25,000 euros, a sanction that was confirmed on July 7. The fine has not changed after the case was studied by Appeal, but the number of games with the stadium without an audience has. Appeal argues its reduction based on the measures and efforts made by Espanyol, such as the reinforcement of security personnel (60% increase in security guards and 15% in auxiliaries).
In this way, Espanyol will only play the match in which they will debut at home, on August 19 against Racing Santander, with the stands closed. On matchday four, on September 3, the Spanish parish will be able to attend the Stage Front Stadium in front of Amorebieta. Luis García's team, which has completed an irregular pre-season, opens the Second League next Sunday at the Carlos Belmonte in Albacete.
The blue and white entity appealed after the Competition sanction, considering that there was an "exemplary" factor in the punishment, which only responded to "biased value judgments" and which, in their opinion, lacked any foundation.
