Fan ban threat to Spurs tie

Tottenham’s UEFA Cup away match against Feyenoord could be held behind closed doors because of possible disciplinary action against the Dutch club.

UEFA have appealed against their independent disciplinary tribunal’s sentence of a suspended two-match stadium ban for Feyenoord after rioting fans caused their game at Nancy to be held up for 30 minutes.

UEFA communications director William Gaillard told PA Sport: “We have appealed before on a number of occasions.

“In this case the prosecutor considers the sentence is not severe enough. The reasoning is that there have been so many previous incidents [involving Feyenoord] to just give them a suspended sentence.

“We are asking the disciplinary commission to reconsider and a more severe penalty for example could be for the sentence not to be suspended.”

The appeal will be heard early next month and the matches played in February.

Spurs and Feyenoord have met four times previously in European competition, with two wins each.

Tottenham supporters rioted after the 1974 UEFA Cup final second leg in Rotterdam, following Feyenoord’s 4-2 aggregate victory.