Atletico Madrid’s two home-match stadium ban for European fixtures has been reduced after the Spanish club successfully appealed against the decision. The Spanish side will now only have to play one match behind closed doors following the appeal.

The original ban ordered Atletico to host their next two European fixtures at least 300km away from Madrid, which would have included their previous UEFA Champions League fixture against Liverpool, before the English club complained due to fans booking travel arrangements ahead of the game.

Atletico were punished due to the violence that flared up during the Champions League fixture against Marseille. Racist chants were supposedly directed towards the French clubs’ players, before the team bus was attacked after the match by Atletico fans.

A UEFA statement read: “After careful consideration of all the evidence presented, and after hearing from the parties and several witnesses, the Appeals Body has reduced the initial three-match stadium closure with one match deferred to a two-match behind closed doors sentence, with one match deferred for two years.

Consequently, Atlético must play their next home fixture in the UEFA Champions League, against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday 26 November, without any spectators in attendance. The initial fine of €150,000 stands.

Finally, the ban on Atlético coach Javier Aguirre has been upheld, and consequently he is banned from carrying out his function for the games against Liverpool FC away on Tuesday and the visit of PSV three weeks later.

The Spanish club will have ten days to appeal the decision of the Appeals Body to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after receipt of the written grounds for the decision.”

Atletico are still understood to be unhappy at the decision, and are likely to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to prove the clubs’ innocence.