UEFA crackdown on racism, Lazio to play in partially closed Olimpico

Lazio's Stadio Olimpico stadium will be partially closed for their Europa League game against Celtic next month as UEFA has punished the club for fans' racist behavior. UEFA further claimed that its disciplinary panel has also threatened Lazio with one-game full stadium closure, suspended for a one-year probationary period. The club has also been fined 20,000 euros and has also been regularly punished by UEFA for chants and fascists salutes made by 'ultra' fan groups. The Italian Club reportedly will be appealing against “severe punishment”, although the sanctions align with UEFA's escalating scale in a discrimination case. We can confirm that @England players were subjected to abhorrent racist chanting while playing in the #EURO2020 qualifier against Bulgaria. This is unacceptable at any level of the game and our immediate focus is supporting the players and staff involved. — The FA (@FA) October 14, 2019 READ: Euro 2020 Qualifiers: UEFA Press Charges On England And Bulgaria READ: Boris Johnson Condemns Racism By Bulgarian Fans; Urges UEFA For Action UK PM condemns racial comments Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson also condemned the racist comments by Bulgarian fans in the match between England and Bulgaria on Monday. PM Johnson tweeted in support of England coach Gareth Southgate and team for standing up against racial comments hurled by the Bulgarian fans at the Stadion Vasil Levski in Bulgaria. The match witnessed England thump Bulgaria by 6-0 courtesy of goals by Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Ross Barkley, and Raheem Sterling. England players had earlier also stated that they would walk off the pitch if racial comments are hurled at them. The vile racism we saw and heard last night has no place in football or anywhere else. Fully support Gareth Southgate & the team for rising above it. Need to see strong swift action from UEFA. https://t.co/j0s1BQuQ6u — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 15, 2019 Due to the racial abuses hurled, the game had to be halted twice even before half time and an announcement was made urging the fans to not hurl any more racial abuses. The three-step UEFA protocol was followed and the referee had a discussion with the team's respective captains. Bulgaria's captain Ivelin Popov even went near the stands to urge the fans to stop the chants but failed to have an impact. The game between France and Turkey on Monday further witnessed some drama as Turkey held off France from qualifying for the Euro 2020. Turkey after scoring a late equalizer to hold off France celebrated the goal by performing a military-style salute as a tribute to the Turkey soldiers fighting against Kurds in Syria. The UEFA has also reportedly instructed a probe in this issue as the body prohibits any political gestures on the field. Bulgaria's PM, Boyko Borissov has asked the head of Bulgaria's Football Union to resign after England's football players were subject to multiple racist attacks during a UEFA Euro Qualifier match on Monday evening. (With inputs from agencies) READ: UEFA To Probe Turkey's Military Salute Celebration In Euro Qualifiers READ: Poland, Germany Qualify For The Main Draw In UEFA Euro 2020 Tournament

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UEFA crackdown on racism, Lazio to play in partially closed Olimpico

Lazio's Stadio Olimpico stadium will be partially closed for their Europa League game against Celtic next month as UEFA has punished the club for fans' racism

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