Russia fined €150,000 & suspended from EURO 2016

Russia have been fined €150,000 and handed a suspended disqualification from Euro 2016 over crowd disturbances at the game against England in Marseille on Saturday, UEFA has announced.

The Russian Football Union (RFU) was charged in relation to offences of crowd disturbances, use of fireworks and racist behaviour inside the Stade Velodrome on Saturday, where the Group B match against England ended in a 1-1 draw.

UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary body met in Paris to consider the case and imposed the suspended disqualification and a €150,000 financial penalty. However, any further incidents of crowd disturbance inside grounds at Russia’s matches during the European Championships will see the suspension lifted and the country thrown out of Euro 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO168NcoqNc

The sanctions against the RFU were outlined in a statement by the independent control, ethics and disciplinary body, in which it confirmed: “A suspended disqualification of the Russian national team from UEFA EURO 2016 for the crowd disturbances.

“In accordance with Article 20 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations this disqualification is suspended until the end of the tournament.

“Such suspension will be lifted if incidents of a similar nature (crowd disturbances) happen inside the stadium at any of the remaining matches of the Russian team during the tournament.”

The decision only relates to incidents which occurred inside the stadium and are therefore under the jurisdiction of the UEFA disciplinary bodies. The decision is open to appeal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman says fans in France should observe the law and he has urged them not to respond to any provocation.

“This is absolutely unacceptable. We count on Russian citizens and fans to obey the laws of the country they are in,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that “we can only call on our fans not to react to any sort of provocation.”

Peskov added: “Fans from a whole range of countries took part in the riots. Unfortunately from Russia as well.”

Asked about statements from some Russian officials who praised Russian fans for their action, Peskov said he disagrees.

“I can’t agree with those statements, and in any case they can’t represent the official viewpoint,” he said.

A bus carrying 29 Russia supporters was stopped by police after leaving a hotel near the Cote d’Azur town of Mandelieu-La Napoule on Tuesday, a local official confirmed.

Prefecture communications chief Ariane Parachini says police stopped the fans to see whether any hooligans were among them.

An unspecified number have been taken to detention centres, a possible prelude to deportation.

Responding to questions about those fans, Peskov said that Russian consular officials are doing what is necessary to ensure their rights.

England play Wales in their next Group B match on Thursday in Lens, around 20 miles from the city of Lille where Russia will be playing Slovakia the previous day.

Russia coach Leonid Slutsky said a statement released on Tuesday shortly before his prematch news conference which read: ”We ask all Russian fans to behave correctly, to not break rules at stadiums and public places.”

Information from Press Association Sport and The Associated Press was used in this report