Russia fined over fans

Published on 24/06/2012 01:13

THE Russian football federation was fined €35,000 yesterday for the unruly behaviour of its fans at the team’s final European Championship game, further tarnishing the country’s image after two earlier rounds of sanctions.

UEFA said the latest punishment relates to “the setting off and throwing of fireworks by spectators, and displaying of illicit banners” during the Group A match against Greece last Saturday.

It took the total amount of fines handed to the Football Union of Russia (RFS) at Euro 2012 to €185,000. Russia were eliminated at the group stage following their 1-0 loss to the Greeks.

The RFS was fined €120,000 after fans attacked stadium staff in Wroclaw at their first match, against the Czech Republic, before being hit by a €30,000 fine after supporters displayed “illicit” nationalist flags and threw fireworks on to the pitch at the game against Poland.

That led to the RFS sending out an appeal to its fans, claiming hooligans were “putting their own interests above the interests of the national team”. Russia will host the World Cup in 2018.

Some Russian fans were also involved in violent clashes, largely provoked by Poles, in Warsaw before and during the match against the co-hosts on June 12. UEFA can’t sanction federations for incidents that occur away from stadiums.