Serbia fined €80,000 for improper conduct of fans

Serbia’s Under-21s have been ordered to play their next match behind closed doors and the Serbian Football Association fined €80,000 following the “improper conduct of their supporters” during and at the end of the European Championship qualifier against England in October.

UEFA today ordered Serbia to play their next under-21 international behind closed doors following racist chanting and violent scenes during and after England Under-21’s victory in Krusevac in October.

The control and disciplinary body also banned six players for varying terms, including English duo Tom Ince and Steven Caulker, and two Serbian coaches after ugly scenes marred the end of the European Championship play-off.

The FA had reported the racist abuse to UEFA plus a number of other incidents. Full-back Danny Rose, who was dismissed after the final whistle for kicking the ball away in anger, complained he had been particularly targeted.

Rose claimed he was subjected to monkey chants throughout the match and as he left the pitch.

General secretary Alex Horne said afterwards that the FA would have to consider whether England should play in Serbia in the future.

Caulker has been given a two-match ban and Ince a one-game suspension but a charge against the FA of failing to control their players was dismissed by UEFA.

The Serbia FA has also been fined €80,000 “for the improper conduct of its supporters during and at the end of the match, as well as for the improper conduct of the Serbia players at the end of the game”.

Serbia fitness coach Andreja Milunovic, who attacked England officials, has been banned for two years, the second of which is suspended for three years. Serbia assistant coach Predrag Katic was also banned for two years, the final six months of which suspended for three years.

Four Serbia players were also banned – Goran Causic for four matches, Ognjen Mudrinski and Filip Malbasic for three and Nikola Ninkovic for two.