FA given record fine in final warning from UEFA

THE England FA escaped with a fine of stg£68,000 for racist abuse and pitch invasions during England’s game against Turkey but were left in no doubt the next outbreak of crowd trouble will see the weight of UEFA’s disciplinary action brought to bear.

With a potentially troublesome match in Turkey in October, not to mention the finals in Portugal next year, the behaviour of those who follow England both at home and abroad will be under the microscope.

UEFA officials may have been talking tough after the disciplinary hearing here in Switzerland today but there was no disguising the FA’s relief they avoided being forced to play the game against Slovakia in Middlesbrough on June 11 behind closed doors. Nonetheless it was the highest-ever fine by UEFA for a racism-related charge.

UEFA communications director Mike Lee said: “This sends a very clear warning to the English FA about the issues of safety and security and the racist behaviour of English fans.

“They should regard this as a final warning and I think the FA have seen that and recognise that. The track record of travelling fans particularly is deplorable and they (the FA) are taking further steps to show they are taking the matter seriously,” he said.

“We trust those steps are going to be effective but if not disciplinary proceedings will be back on the agenda.”

UEFA’s executive committee threatened to expel England from Euro 2000 after crowd trouble in Belgium and if Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team make it to the finals in sun-drenched Portugal next year then the same punishment could be applied if there is hooliganism there.

Lee added: “The threat of expulsion is clearly something available to UEFA.”

The cash-strapped FA stood to lose around stg£1.5million if their game with Slovakia had been in an empty stadium and escaping that punishment alone was a relief.

However, cynics might say that as far as hooliganism is concerned, England fans are not drinking in the last chance saloon, rather they have drunk it dry and are smashing it up.

FA marketing and communications director Paul Barber said the FA would not appeal against the fine: “We acknowledge the decision and would like to thank UEFA disciplinary body for considering our evidence. By imposing a record fine and warning us of future conduct of English supporters the message is clear and we respect this.”