UEFA today promised to protect players from racist abuse after taking their toughest-ever stance against the problem.

Spanish club Atletico Madrid have been handed a two-match home ban by European football's governing body after their fans abused members of the Marseille squad during the Champions League match between the clubs this month.

Last week both Rio Ferdinand and Emile Heskey urged the authorities to take more action against teams whose fans abused black players after Croatia were fined only £14,920 by FIFA following incidents in Zagreb in September.

Now, UEFA have sent out a stringent message by taking unprecedented action against a club for racist behaviour.

In addition to the two-game ban which could become three if the Spaniards fall foul of the same offence within the next five years Atletico were also fined £120,000.

UEFA chiefs insisted the decision had been taken to punish the Spanish team but also to protect English players as Liverpool were due to visit Madrid next Wednesday.

The decision will bolster the Football Association's ongoing battle to stop next year's international friendly between England and Spain taking place at the Bernabeu Stadium, after Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips suffered abuse there in 2004.

UEFA communications director William Gaillard said: "I understand the players' fears. That is exactly why we are acting with renewed strength - to make sure that in the future England players will not be threatened.

"We think sanctions like the ones we have taken are conducive to making it possible for clubs and national teams to play in Madrid without this kind of threat."

But, the decision drew anger from Liverpool who must now play their Champions League fixture at a neutral venue at least 200 miles away from Madrid.

Chief executive Rick Parry said: "To say that UEFA's decision is a bit late in the day is to put it mildly. If the match is played at least 300 kilometres from Madrid, it will cause major disruption, inconvenience and large additional expense for our fans."