Europa League clubs fined, calendar issue settled

The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body (CDB) has awarded fines to FC Internazionale Milano and SL Benfica for organisational issues and the improper conduct of their fans at two recent UEFA Europa League round of 16 matches.

Internazionale have been fined €45,000 for incidents during their round of 16 return leg against Tottenham Hotspur FC in Milan on 14 March, while Benfica were handed a €32,000 fine related to incidents at their round of 16 first leg against FC Girondins de Bordeaux in Lisbon on 7 March.

An appeal may be lodged against both these decisions within three days of the dispatch of the reasoned decision.

The CDB also issued a decision concerning the proceedings initiated against the English Football Association (FA) regarding calendar clashes relating to the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons. Accepting a resolution of the case between the parties, the FA will pay €50,000 and the 10% of the UEFA Champions League distribution payment for 2010/11, which was withheld, will be added at the end of the current campaign to the pot for distribution to the respective clubs in the relevant remaining UEFA member associations.

In addition, UEFA will now establish a working group, which will involve representatives of the FA, in order to avoid calendar clashes in future.