EUROPEAN FOOTBALL’S GOVERNING body UEFA on Saturday announced that it was taking action against Russia after a series of incidents involving the country’s fans in its Euro 2012 opener.
“UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Football Union of Russia for the improper conduct of its supporters at Friday’s UEFA EURO 2012 match against the Czech Republic,” a statement on the organisation’s website said.
UEFA said it took the decision after studying security reports and available images from the ground at Wroclaw, western Poland, where Russia were 4-1 winners against the Czech Republic on Friday.
The proceedings, set to take place on Wednesday, would focus on “the improper conduct of its supporters (crowd disturbances), the setting off and throwing of fireworks and the display of illicit banners”.
The UEFA statement made no direct mention of claims from a watchdog group that Czech player Theo Gebre Selassie was subjected to racial abuse by Russia fans.
Never Again, a Polish-based organisation part of the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network said Selassie, who is black, heard monkey chats from some Russian supporters during the game.
UEFA said only that they were “investigating this further and… working with FARE to collect more evidence”.
-AFP