Court upholds Atletico's Champions crowd ban

(CNN) -- Atletico Madrid must play their next Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday behind closed doors following clashes between Spanish police and fans during last month's game against Marseille, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled on Thursday.

But the court halved a €150,000 fine imposed by the European football governing body and said it had not been able to establish allegations of racist abuse directed at Marseille players by Atletico fans.

The court said the reasons for its decision would be published at a later date.

It also overturned UEFA's suspended ruling that Atletico should play a second match behind closed doors. That sanction could have been enforced if further trouble occurred at Atletico's Vicente Calderon stadium in the next two years.

The punishment of playing in an empty stadium because of fan behavior has been imposed on European teams before. UEFA ordered Italian team Inter Milan to play four games behind closed doors in 2005 after Inter fans threw flares and bottles onto the field during a game with AC Milan.

UEFA had originally ruled that Atletico should play three Champions League matches away from home. But that was reduced by UEFA's Appeals Body on October 31.

The court upheld the rest of UEFA's ruling, including a two-match touchline ban in European competition for Atletico manager Javier Aguirre for unsporting behavior during the fixture.

Atletico's 2-1 win over Marseille on October 1 was marred by violent confrontations, both outside and inside the stadium. Images from the match showed baton-wielding police officers confronting fans and bloodied supporters holding their heads. UEFA blamed Atletico for the clashes.

Atletico welcomed the court's verdict in a statement published on the club's Web site: "As the evidence presented showed, (the court) has 100 percent ratified the position of Atletico Madrid when it comes to the racist chants alleged by Marseille."

Atletico currently lead their Champions League group following home and away draws with Liverpool and are favorites to advance to the knockout round of 16.

They face Marseille in France in their final match of the group stage on December 9.