January 15 – As widely anticipated UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings into alleged racist chanting by Chelsea fans in last month’s Europa League game with MOL Vidi in Hungary.
A vocal minority chanted derogatory anti-Semitic songs about Tottenham Hotspur fans in the 2-2 draw on 13 December.
Chelsea will discover at the end of February whether or not they will be hit with a partial stadium ban when UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary body examine the case.
Article 14 of UEFA’s regulations state that, if supporters are found guilty of behaviour “that insults the human dignity of a person or group of persons on whatever grounds, including skin colour, race, religion or ethnic origin”, the minimum punishment is the partial closure of their home stadium in a subsequent fixture. This would be Chelsea’s first offence and a second incident would see them forced to play a match behind closed doors.
Chelsea, whose Russian owner Roman Abramovich is himself Jewish, have been hit by a series of allegations of racism by their fans in recent months prompting chairman Bruce Buck to reiterate the club’s zero policy and to write an open letter to fans condemning the actions of “a few mindless individuals”.
The incident against Vidi came three days after four Chelsea fans were suspended for allegedly racially abusing Manchester City’s black England international Raheem Sterling.
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