Football: Fans to pay Bayern's UEFA fine over 'Gay Gunners' banner

BERLIN - Four young fans responsible for a homophobic banner which saw Bayern Munich fined by UEFA will repay the club and undertake community service, according to reports Wednesday.

European football’s governing body UEFA fined Bayern 10,000 euros (S$17,150) after the youths from Bayern’s Tirol-based fan club displayed a “Gay Gunners” banner, aimed at opponents Arsenal during the Champions League last 16 second leg on March 11.

Because of the banner, Bayern were also ordered to close part of their stadium for their quarter-final at home to against Manchester United, meaning the loss of 150,000 euros in revenue on unsold tickets.

Bayern officials have told the parents they must each pay the Bavarian giants 2,000 euros towards the fine and do community service in Munich.

“The youths will do ten hours of community service in the summer on top of the fine,” a Bayern spokesman told Munich-based paper the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

The father of one of the four, whose ages have not been disclosed, confirmed the punishment.

The Bayern spokesman said their reaction highlights changing attitudes in football and served as a warning to others.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of the Bundesliga champions, said he distanced himself from the banner’s message “in the strongest possible terms”.