UEFA fine clubs over fans behaviour

PSV Eindhoven were fined by UEFA today after Arsenal striker Thierry Henry suffered racist abuse and had missiles hurled at him…

PSV Eindhoven were fined by UEFA today after Arsenal striker Thierry Henry suffered racist abuse and had missiles hurled at him during a Champions League game.

Henry complained about the treatment meted out to him by some PSV fans after the Gunners' 4-0 Group A victory in Eindhoven on September 25th.

UEFA's control and disciplinary body, meeting in Nyon today, noted that official reports did not mention these incidents and that Arsenal did not complain as a club or "submit a statement or any evidence of the alleged racist behaviour of the Dutch supporters".

The meeting also heard that video evidence clearly showed that "only a very small minority of individuals insulted the Arsenal FC player".

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Yugoslavian outfit FK Sartid were also fined for the racist behaviour of their fans during the UEFA Cup clash with Ipswich on October 3rd when "animal gestures and noises were directed at Ipswich players".

Hajduk Split have been fined for the setting-off of fireworks by local supporters in their UEFA Cup match played on September 19th against Fulham but the club has been cleared from charges of racism as there was "no conclusive evidence" available.

Valencia were cleared of charges of racist abuse as "none of the reports of the various officials, nor the television images showed any evidence of racist behaviour by their supporters" during the Champions League match played on September 17th against Liverpool.

The disciplinary case opened against CSKA Sofia following their UEFA Cup match played on October 3rd against Blackburn was postponed to the next meeting as new evidence was presented concerning the alleged racist behaviour of the Bulgarian supporters.

The crowd disturbances as well as the case of the player Velizar Dimitrov, who was sent off, will be dealt with at the same meeting - the date for which has yet to be scheduled.