September 30 – UEFA have run out patience with fans of Polish club Legia Warsaw and have ordered them to play their next Champions League game, against holders Real Madrid on November 2, behind closed doors.
Fighting among home fans during Legia’s 6-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund, their first home game in the group stage, has also resulted in an €80,000 fine.
Fans clashed with stadium security staff, threw objects, lit fireworks and were guilty of anti-Semitic abuse. One group of hooligans also tried to break into the Dortmund sector.
UEFA’s severe sanction follows a number of other cases involving Legia in recent seasons. The club has previously been punished for offensive banners, including one in Arabic displayed before a match against an Israeli opponent and another mocking UEFA.
Legia are the first Polish side to reach the Champions League group stages in 20 years but are unlikely to progress any further after a 2-0 defeat by Sporting Lisbon this week left them bottom of Group F after two games.
Legia, however, have said they will appeal the UEFA decision, adding that they will do everything to make sure the match against Madrid can be played in front of the club’s supporters. The club insisted that evidence presented to UEFA did not back “the initial assessment of the UEFA match delegate”.
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