.png)
The UEFA Appeals Body (AB) has announced a series of disciplinary decisions following incidents during UEFA Europa League 2026/27 qualifying matches, issuing fines, suspended stadium closures and away supporter restrictions against PFC CSKA Sofia, Derry City FC and FC Universitatea Cluj.
The sanctions relate to supporter misconduct, including crowd disturbances, object throwing, pyrotechnics, pitch invasions, discriminatory behaviour and other breaches of UEFA regulations.
CSKA Sofia Hit With €55,000 in Fines and Away Ticket Ban
Bulgarian side PFC CSKA Sofia received multiple punishments following their 2-1 away victory over Derry City FC on 16 July 2026.
UEFA charged CSKA Sofia supporters with throwing objects, crowd disturbances, damage to stadium installations, racist and discriminatory behaviour involving Nazi salutes, while a club staff member was also found to have breached UEFA’s rules on decent conduct.
The Appeals Body fined CSKA Sofia a total of €55,000 and imposed restrictions on away ticket sales.
The club was ordered to serve a full restriction on selling tickets to supporters for its next UEFA club competition away match due to incidents involving object throwing, stadium damage and crowd disturbances.
CSKA Sofia must also contact Derry City within 30 days to settle the costs of damage caused by its supporters, including damaged seats at the stadium.
A further one-match away supporter ban was imposed for racist and discriminatory behaviour, accompanied by a €20,000 fine. However, that additional ban has been suspended for a probationary period of two years.
The club was also fined €5,000 after a staff member was found guilty of violating UEFA’s basic rules of decent conduct.
Derry City Receive Suspended Stadium Closure
Hosts Derry City FC were also punished following the same Europa League fixture, after UEFA charged the Irish club with an effective pitch invasion, throwing of objects and crowd disturbances.
The club was fined €20,000 and ordered to partially close its stadium’s North Stand for its next UEFA club competition home match.
However, the stadium closure has been suspended for a two-year probationary period, meaning the sanction will only be activated if further offences occur during that timeframe.
UEFA also closed proceedings against Derry City regarding an alleged failure to provide sufficient protection of the playing area.
Universitatea Cluj Punished After Dynamo Kyiv Match
Romanian club FC Universitatea Cluj received several sanctions following their 0-0 draw against FC Dynamo Kyiv on 16 July 2026.
The club was charged with racist and discriminatory behaviour relating to a banner displayed by supporters, blocking public passageways, throwing objects, use of pyrotechnics, the use of a laser pointer, and chants deemed unsuitable for a football match that brought UEFA into disrepute.
Universitatea Cluj were fined a combined €59,000 and handed a suspended partial stadium closure.
The club was fined €15,000 and ordered to close 1,000 adjacent seats, including all seats in sector 2V2, for its next UEFA home fixture due to discriminatory behaviour by supporters. The closure has been suspended for two years.
Additional fines included:
- €8,000 for blocking public passageways
- €6,000 for throwing objects
- €10,000 for inappropriate chants and bringing UEFA into disrepute
- €8,000 for the use of a laser pointer
- €12,000 for lighting pyrotechnics
UEFA’s latest disciplinary decisions continue the governing body’s strict approach toward supporter misconduct, particularly incidents involving discrimination, violence, unsafe behaviour and breaches of stadium regulations during European competitions.
.jpg)
.jpg)
