UEFA increase Serbia punishment

UEFA will increase the penalties imposed on the Serbian Football Association regarding the incidents at an Under-21 match against England.

Widespread criticism of the original penalties, including from FIFA president Sepp Blatter, led to UEFA disciplinary inspector Jean-Samuel Leuba proposing stricter punishment on Wednesday.

The end of Serbia and England’s playoff in October for a spot in the 2013 European Under-21 Football Championship was marred by violent scenes, with allegations the home fans and players racially abused some English players.

In December, the Serbian Football Assocation (FSS) was fined 80,000 euros, while UEFA announced Serbia’s U21 team must play one game in an empty stadium.

Four Serbian players and two English players were suspended and two members of the coaching staff, Andreja Milunovic and Predrag Katic, were banned from football for two years.

Leuba’s increased penalties will see the FSS fined 200,000 euros.

The Serbian U21 team will not be allowed to qualify for or contest the 2015 European U21 championship, while Milunovic’s ban will be increased to five years and one of the Serbian players, Nikola Ninkovic, will have his suspension lengthened from two matches to three.

The FSS confirmed they will submit an appeal.

“We are disappointed because we didn’t expect Leuba to change his initial stance on the punishments,” FSS general secretary Zoran Lakovic said.

The FSS’ deadline to appeal is the end of January.