UEFA orders Dynamo Kiev to play behind closed doors over racism

November 26, 2015 | 10:35

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UEFA on Wednesday ordered Dynamo Kiev to play their next three European matches behind closed doors and fined the Ukrainian team €100,000 (US$106,280) for their fans' racist behaviour during a match against Chelsea.

File photo of Dynamo Kiev players celebrating a goal during their UEFA Champions League match against Porto in Portugal on Nov 24, 2015. (AFP/Francisco Leong)

Paris - UEFA on Wednesday ordered Dynamo Kiev to play their next three European matches behind closed doors and fined the Ukrainian team €100,000 (US$106,280) for their fans' racist behaviour during a match against Chelsea.

UEFA's charges against Dynamo Kiev related to "racist behaviour ... crowd disturbances (and) stairways blocked" during the goalless draw against Chelsea on Oct 20 at the Olympic Stadium.

The third match is suspended for a probationary period of three years, UEFA said. The sanction means that there will no fans present when Dynamo Kiev host Maccabi Tel-Aviv in their final Group D match on Dec 9.

The Ukrainians currently sit third in Group D on eight points, but they remain in contention for the knockout stages should they notch up a victory over the Israelis. Chelsea and Porto are tied on 10 points apiece at the top of the group.

Dynamo were fined €15,000 (US$17,000) by European football's governing body earlier this year following their fans' racist behaviour during an Europa League match against Everton.

The Ukrainian side were also punished for setting off fireworks and for insufficient organisation during the 5-2 second leg win in March. UEFA also ordered the partial closure of the stadium for the first leg of the quarter-final against Fiorentina.

AFP

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