Spain and Russia charged for racism
KYIV: Uefa charged the Spanish and Russian football associations yesterday for racist chants by fans at the European Championship.
The charges follow reports that monkey noises were directed by Spain fans at Italy forward Mario Balotelli, and that Russian fans targeted Czech Republic defender Theodor Gebre Selassie. Both players are black.
Uefa said it opened disciplinary cases for “improper conduct of their supporters (racist behaviour, racist chanting).”
The European football body said its disciplinary panel will deal with the cases tomorrow. Spain and Russia will likely receive financial penalties if the cases are proven.
Russia has already been fined 185,000 euros ($230,000) after being charged by Uefa over its fans’ conduct at all three of its group-stage matches in Poland.
Uefa also threatened Russia with a six-point deduction in its 2016 European Championship qualifying group after some of its fans attacked stadium stewards in Wroclaw following the Czech match on June 8. Uefa has said the deduction would be enforced if fans repeated their violent behavior. The Russian FA has appealed that sanction.