Football
Associated Press 8y

UEFA orders Ukraine to play home game behind closed doors after racism

Ukraine have been ordered to play a game behind closed doors as part of a UEFA punishment for racist behaviour by fans at last month's European Championship qualifier against Spain.

UEFA fined Ukraine €97,000 for the racist behaviour and separate charges including offensive chanting and the use of a laser pointer during the match, which Spain won 1-0.

Ukraine already have to play their first 2018 World Cup qualifier behind closed doors because of a FIFA punishment for racism dating from 2013.

On Wednesday, European football's governing body gave Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kiev a three-game stadium ban, with the third game suspended for a probationary period of three years, after racist attacks on black fans during a Champions League game against Chelsea.

Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE), European football's anti-discrimination organisation, passed footage to UEFA of the attack on four black fans at the match.

Dynamo will play in an empty stadium against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Dec. 9, with the second match behind closed doors coming either in the Champions League round of 16 or the Europa League round of 32 next year.

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