Russia, Poland fined for crowd trouble - UEFA

17 June 2012 21:49

The Russian and Polish football federations were on Sunday fined 30,000 euros (24,000 pounds $38,000) and 4,000 euros respectively for a number of incidents involving their fans at Euro 2012, UEFA said.

European football's governing body said that Russia was sanctioned for "the setting off and throwing of fireworks by spectators, displaying of illicit banners and the invasion of the pitch" when the two sides met last Tuesday.

Russia has already been fined 120,000 euros and threatened with a six-point deduction from its next European championship qualifying campaign for the 2016 competition in France, if there is any repeat of serious crowd trouble.

That followed similar incidents and an attack on four stadium stewards at Russia's opening Group A match with the Czech Republic in Wroclaw, southwest Poland, on June 8.

Potentially inflammatory "Russian Empire" flags -- seen as deeply provocative in parts of Eastern Europe that used to be under Moscow's thumb, including Poland -- were also seen in the stands.

UEFA, though, said in a statement on its website that the latest fine does "not have any impact" on the suspended points penalty.

The Polish Football Association (PZPN) was also penalised for supporters setting off fireworks in the match in Warsaw, which ended 1-1.

Both Russia and Poland have both failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the tournament, which is being held in Poland and neighbouring Ukraine.

Source: AFP