Serbian FA waive right to appeal Genoa riot verdict

The Serbian Football Association (FSS) has waived its right to appeal against Uefa's punishment over the national team's abandoned Euro 2012 qualifier away to Italy last month.

"The Football Association of Serbia has decided to accept the punitive measures passed by Uefa after the FSS top officials and the body's legal team assessed that an appeal would not have positive effects," the FSS said in a statement.

The FSS decision is a U-turn after its president Tomislav Karadzic had said the body would appeal and ask for a replay following Uefa's verdict on 29 October.

Italy were awarded a 3-0 win after visiting Serbian fans rioted before, during and after the Group C qualifier in Genoa on 12 October, having forced the game to be abandoned after only six minutes.

They threw flares at home fans and supporters straight after the kick-off, while they also attacked their own team bus before the match and clashed with riot police outside the Luigi Ferraris stadium after the game was abandoned.

Serbia were also ordered to play their next home match against Northern Ireland behind closed doors on 25 March and fined €120,000. In addition, they were told they would be forced to play another home game with no fans if there was any comparable incident in the next two years and ordered to refrain from allocating tickets for their remaining away qualifiers.

Italy were fined €100,000 and handed a suspended sentence of a one-match crowd ban for a period of two years.