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UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has imposed a series of fines and suspended supporter restrictions on five clubs following incidents involving racist or discriminatory behaviour, pyrotechnics, object throwing, laser pointers and other misconduct at UEFA matches.
The most significant sanctions were handed to Feyenoord and FK Partizan Beograd, with Partizan ordered to close sections of its stadium following a repeat offence involving discriminatory behaviour.
Feyenoord were fined a combined €74,375 following their 5-1 Champions League defeat to Barcelona on September 9. The Dutch club received a €25,000 fine and a suspended 25% reduction in its away-ticket allocation, from 5% to 3.75% of the home stadium capacity, for racist and/or discriminatory behaviour by supporters.
The ticket restriction is suspended for two years.
Feyenoord were also fined €26,375 for throwing objects, €10,000 for chants deemed unfit for a sporting event and/or bringing UEFA into disrepute, and €13,000 for damage caused to the stadium. The club has additionally been ordered to contact Barcelona within 30 days to settle the costs associated with damage caused in the away stand.
RC Lens were sanctioned following their 3-2 Champions League defeat by Slavia Praha on September 10. The French club was fined €15,000 for supporters lighting pyrotechnics and received a suspended full restriction on selling tickets to its supporters for one UEFA club competition away match. The measure is suspended for two years.
KKS Lech Poznań received two separate suspended away-ticket restrictions following their 4-0 Europa League defeat at Crystal Palace on September 17.
The Polish club was fined €15,000 and given a suspended full restriction on selling tickets for one away match over racist and/or discriminatory behaviour. A further €10,000 fine and another suspended full away-ticket restriction were imposed for the use of pyrotechnics. Both restrictions carry two-year probationary periods.
Partizan received the most substantial stadium sanction after their 2-1 Conference League victory over Getafe on August 27.
The CEDB ordered the enforcement of a previously suspended measure imposed by the UEFA Appeals Body on July 28. As a result, 5,000 adjacent seats in the West Stand will be closed for Partizan's next UEFA competition match at home.
The Serbian club was also fined €30,000 and handed an additional partial stadium closure involving 15,000 adjacent seats across the West and South stands for racist and/or discriminatory behaviour. That additional closure is suspended for two years.
Partizan were further fined €2,000 for pyrotechnics and €10,000 for the use of laser pointers.
Beitar Jerusalem FC, meanwhile, were fined €32,750 following their 2-1 Conference League defeat at Austria Wien on August 13. The Israeli club received a €2,750 fine for pyrotechnics and a €30,000 fine for racist and/or discriminatory behaviour by supporters.
Beitar were also handed a suspended full restriction on selling tickets to supporters for one UEFA club competition away match, with the measure suspended for two years.
The latest CEDB decisions once again demonstrate UEFA's use of financial penalties, suspended away-ticket restrictions and stadium closures in response to supporter misconduct during European competition.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / Dexter Fernandes, Unsplash / Alessandro Autiero
