Closed-door penalties for two clubs

Two European clubs – FC Utrecht from the Netherlands and Georgian side FC Dinamo Tbilisi – have been ordered by UEFA to play their next UEFA club competition matches behind closed doors.

Letter to clubs
UEFA has also announced that it has sent a letter to clubs whose grounds have seen racist behaviour in recent European club competition matches, calling on them to take "all necessary action" to implement measures to combat racism.

Ten-point anti-racism plan
European football's governing body yesterday sent a ten-point plan of action drawn up by European anti-racism group FARE to the European football community, urging everyone involved in football on this continent to take wide-ranging steps to eliminate racist conduct on and off the field.

Utrecht match interrupted
The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body, meeting in Nyon, Switzerland, on Thursday, heard that Utrecht supporters threw several missiles, burned seats and invaded the pitch during the UEFA Cup first round second-leg match against Polish side Legia Warszawa in the Netherlands on 3 October. The match was interrupted for 40 minutes as a result.

Racist banner
A UEFA statement said that a racist banner was brandished by some of the FC Utrecht supporters at the same game. Legia were fined €10,250 for the "improper conduct and provocative behaviour" of their fans at the match.

Stadium inspection
Dinamo Tbilisi were punished with a one-match closed-door penalty following serious crowd disturbances at the UEFA Cup first round second-leg game with Czech champions FC Slovan Liberec on 3 October. The UEFA disciplinary body was told that several missiles were thrown on to the pitch, and that one assistant referee had been hit by a stone. UEFA has asked for a stadium inspection to be carried out before any other match can be played at the Boris Paichadze stadium in Tbilisi.

PSV fined
Dutch club PSV Eindhoven have been fined €20,500 for the improper conduct of their fans - including racist abuse and throwing of missiles at Arsenal FC striker Thierry Henry - at the UEFA Champions League game in Eindhoven on 25 September.

Small minority
"The official reports did not mention these incidents and the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body pointed out that Arsenal FC did not complain, nor did they submit a statement or any evidence of the alleged racist behaviour of the Dutch supporters," UEFA said. "The Body also took into account the video evidence clearly showing that only a very small minority of individuals insulted the Arsenal FC player when reaching a decision."

Basel smoke bomb
Another €20,500 fine was handed down to Swiss outfit FC Basel for the setting-off and throwing of a smoke bomb which led to a four-minute interruption of the Champions League match against FC Spartak Moskva in Basel on 17 September.

Improper conduct
Yugoslavian club FK Sartid were fined €15,040 for the racist behaviour of their spectators – animal gestures and noises directed at players – at the UEFA Cup match against of Ipswich Town FC on 3 October. Belgium's Club Brugge KV were fined €15,040 for the improper conduct of their supporters – "racist abuse of a player of FC Lokomotiv Moskva", said UEFA – during a Champions League encounter on 24 September.

Hadjuk, Valencia cleared
In two other cases, Croatian side HNK Hadjuk Split and Spanish champions Valencia CF were cleared of charges of racist conduct or abuse at recent European matches. In the case of Hadjuk, concerning their home UEFA Cup first-round game against Londoners Fulham FC on 19 September, UEFA said that "the club has been cleared from charges of racism as there was no conclusive evidence available". However, Hadjuk were fined €3,420 for the lighting of fireworks by their fans.

No evidence 
In Valencia's case, relating to the Champions League match at home to Liverpool FC on 17 September, UEFA explained: "None of the reports of the various officials, nor the television images showed any evidence of racist behavior by their supporters."

CSKA case postponed
A case opened against PFC CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria in the wake of their UEFA Cup game against another English side, Blackburn Rovers FC, on 3 October has been postponed until the Control and Disciplinary Body's next meeting. "New evidence was presented concerning the alleged racist behaviour of the Bulgarian supporters," said UEFA, who added that the body would also deal with the dismissal in the match of CSKA player Velizar Dimitrov.

Appeal deadline
Parties punished in all of the above cases have until midnight on Monday 14 October to lodge an appeal