Serbian soccer federation fined, warned it could lose points over rowdy crowds
By APThursday, October 8, 2009
Serbia fined, warned about rowdy soccer fans
BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia’s soccer federation was fined for rowdy crowd behavior and warned by FIFA the team could lose points if problems persist at remaining World Cup qualifying matches.
The federation says on its Web site that it must pay $24,000 after fans used fire crackers and torches at a match against France last month in Belgrade.
The statement says this is the third punishment in qualifying, with the fines totaling $42,000.
The statement quotes FIFA’s warning that any problems at games with Romania and Lithuania could lead to “drastically higher punishments, including the worst, which is stripping of the points in the next qualifying round.”
Last month, hooligans attacked a group of French fans in a pub in central Belgrade, fatally beating one of them.
Ten people were arrested for the attack on the Toulouse fan. Police said they are searching for two more suspects.
Officials in Serbia are attempting to ban violent fan groups.
