UEFA orders probe into riot by Dinamo Bucharest fans after Europa League tie abandoned

UEFA orders probe into Romanian soccer riot

NYON, Switzerland — UEFA has ordered Dinamo Bucharest to appear before a disciplinary panel next week after its rioting fans forced a Europa League match to be abandoned.

The Romanian club trailed 2-0 at home to Czech opponent Slovan Liberec when fans tried to invade the pitch in the 88th minute of the playoff round, first-leg tie on Thursday.

Police and security staff stopped the fans encroaching beyond an athletics track circling the pitch, but Austrian referee Thomas Einwaller abandoned the match fearing for the players’ safety.

Competition organizer UEFA said Friday that the panel can decide to let the 2-0 result stand or impose a heavier defeat on Dinamo.

The disciplinary panel will meet in emergency session on Tuesday to deliver a ruling before the return match scheduled two days later in Liberec.

Two years ago, UEFA awarded Sweden a 3-0 victory over Denmark in a European Championship qualifier after a Danish fan ran on to the pitch in Copenhagen and tried to assault the referee. The incident happened in the 89th minute when the score was 3-3.

Dinamo also faces being fined and ordered to play future home matches in European competitions in an empty stadium.