October 13 – UEFA have rejected Legia Warsaw’s appeal against a Champions League stadium ban meaning the Polish club will have to play Real Madrid behind closed doors on November 2.
Fighting among home fans during Legia’s 6-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund, their first home game in the group stage, 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 insisted that evidence presented to UEFA did not back “the initial assessment of the UEFA match delegate” but Uefa rejected that. Fans were seen trying to attack away supporters, covering their faces and using pepper spray against security staff.
Legia travel to Real Madrid next Tuesday before the return match on 2 November at what will be an empty Army Stadium.
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