UEFA punishes Serbia for fan incidents at Switzerland game in Nations League
Serbia's players celebrate after a goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Switzerland at the Dubocica Stadium in Leskovac, Serbia, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Credit: AP/Darko Vojinovic
NYON, Switzerland — UEFA fined the Serbian soccer federation 52,000 euros ($56,500) on Friday for misconduct by fans who jeered Switzerland’s national anthem and displayed an anti-Kosovo banner.
UEFA said its disciplinary panel also charged Serbia for discrimination by fans at the Nations League game against the Swiss on Oct. 12 attended by state president Aleksandar Vucic in Leskovac.
Games between Serbia and Switzerland have been politically charged in recent years, including at the past two World Cups. Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka has ethnic Albanian family ties to Kosovo.
Serbia does not recognize the independence declared by its former province Kosovo in 2008, and the soccer federation urged fans not to bring unapproved banners to the Switzerland game.
UEFA has rules against political statements at stadiums and charged Serbia for “transmitting (a) message that is not fit for a sports event.”
Serbia also must serve a two-year probationary period. A repeat offense will see UEFA close a section of its stadium for one game.
UEFA also punished Hungary for fans’ discriminatory chants by banning sales of tickets to them for a Nations League game in the Netherlands.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic applauds before the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Switzerland at the Dubocica Stadium in Leskovac, Serbia, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Credit: AP/Darko Vojinovic
Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina were charged with “racist or discriminatory behavior” at their Nations League game last month in Zenica.
Hungary’s sanctions activated a ticket-sales ban deferred since similar incidents by fans at European Championship games held in Germany in June.
The Hungarian federation now cannot sell tickets to fans for a Nov. 16 game in Amsterdam, UEFA said, and its disciplinary panel added a new probationary ticket-sales ban.
UEFA also fined Hungary 20,000 euros ($21,700) for the discrimination and 14,500 euros ($15,700) for fans lighting fireworks.
Hungary's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after he scored during the Nations League soccer match between Bosnia and Hungary in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Credit: AP/Armin Durgut
The Bosnian federation must close a section of its stadium when hosting the Netherlands on Nov. 19. UEFA also fined Bosnia 25,000 euros ($27,000) for the discrimination by fans.
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