England have been handed a two-match stadium ban by Uefa, with one of those suspended for two years, for the chaotic and violent scenes at Wembley around the Euro 2020 final. It means there will be no fans at the opening home game of their 2022-23 Nations League campaign.
The ruling by Uefa’s ethics and disciplinary committee follows an investigation into July’s events “involving supporters which occurred inside and around the stadium”. Hundreds of people without tickets attempted to break through barriers, turnstiles and gates to enter Wembley, a significant number succeeded in doing so, and there were outbreaks of fighting and other disorder.
Uefa said the punishment was for a “lack of order and discipline inside and around the stadium” and has also fined the English Football Association €100,000.
The FA said: “Although we are disappointed with the verdict, we acknowledge the outcome of this Uefa decision. We condemn the terrible behaviour of the individuals who caused the disgraceful scenes in and around Wembley Stadium at the Euro 2020 final, and we deeply regret that some of them were able to enter the stadium.
“We are determined that this can never be repeated, so we have commissioned an independent review, led by Baroness Casey, to report on the circumstances involved. We continue to work with the relevant authorities in support of their efforts to take action against those responsible and hold them to account.”
Uefa separately charged the FA over fans’ behaviour inside the ground before and during the game, which England lost on penalties against Italy. Those offences were invasion of the pitch, throwing of objects, booing of the Italian national anthem and the lighting of a firework.
The FA was fined £25,630 after crowd trouble of a similar nature at the Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark and a heftier bill was inevitable this time.
Uefa has shown this summer that it is willing to clamp down on associations whose fans misbehave seriously at venues. It ordered Hungary to play two games behind closed doors in Uefa competition, and pay a €100,000 fine, for racist and homophobic abuse during the Euro 2020 group stage. – Guardian
