Rangers fined over Romania trouble

Television pictures from last Wednesday's Champions League draw in Bucharest showed a number of visiting supporters clashing with Romanian police in the stands, while one fan was seen to rip out a seat. Unirea Urziceni have been fined 8,000 euros (£7,195) for lack of organisation at the same match. Rangers chief executive Martin Bain had claimed the trouble was triggered by poor organisation at the Steaua Stadium and over-zealous policing. Bain's explanation for the crowd trouble was also backed by Superintendent Mike Dean of Strathclyde Police, who was helping to co-ordinate security at the ground. The Light Blues were fined £13,300 for supporters' discriminatory chanting and £9,000 for attacking their opponents' team bus during an away game against Villarreal in 2006. The following year, they were fined £8,280 on an improper conduct charge for fans' behaviour at an away UEFA Cup game against Osasuna. However, it appears that UEFA have taken a lenient view of proceedings, amid fears ground closure could be one of the sanctions imposed on the Ibrox club by the governing body.