UEFA Punishes Balkan Duo for Abandoned Euro Qualifier

UEFA Punishes Balkan Duo for Abandoned Euro Qualifier

Friday, October 24, 2014 4:40 pm


European football governing body UEFA has handed punishments on Albania and Serbia for the abandonment of the Euro 2016 qualifying match between both nations earlier in October.

Serbia was given a 3-0 win but would not gain the three points for the win according to UEFA’s disciplinary body, which also ordered Serbia to play its next two home matches behind closed doors.

Meanwhile the football federations of both nations were fined $105,000 each, with officials from both nations expressing their displeasure at UEFA’s decision and both nations have stated they would appeal the ruling.

The match was goalless in the closing stages of the first half when a drone carrying an Albanian flag and a political message attached to it flew over the match venue in Albania.

The drone’s appearance sparked a mass brawl involving players and officials of both teams as well as fans, with the Albanians eventually calling off the match after their players refused to return to the field when tempers had calmed.


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