Sports

Russia, Poland charged by Uefa

Teams given hefty fines for crowd trouble in Euro 2012.

Afp June 18, 2012

WARSAW: The Russian and Polish football federations were fined €30,000 and €4,000 respectively for a number of incidents involving their fans at Euro 2012.

European football's governing body said that Russia was sanctioned for ‘the setting off and throwing of fireworks by spectators, displaying of illicit banners and the invasion of the pitch’ when the two sides met last Tuesday.

Russia has already been fined €120,000 and threatened with a six-point deduction from its next European championship qualifying campaign for the 2016 competition in France if there is any repeat of serious crowd trouble.

The Russian Football Union has however decided to appeal against the point-deduction warning. The Polish Football Association was also penalised for supporters setting off fireworks in the match in Warsaw. Both teams failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the tournament.

Rosicky returns home for treatment

Meanwhile, Czech Republic captain Tomas Rosicky left Poland for Prague for treatment on the Achilles tendon injury in a desperate bid to be fit for Thursday's quarter-final with Portugal.

"We wanted to carry out procedures we are not able to do here," said chief team doctor Petr Krejci. Rosicky, suffering from an inflamed Achilles tendon, went to Prague to see renowned physiotherapist Pavel Kolar, who takes care of top Czech athletes.

"Any finding on the Achilles tendon signals a serious problem," said Polar. "We have started further treatment. But this type of injury is remarkably unpleasant for footballers.

Czech sports doctor Josef Maurer said the injury was probably caused by too much strain, and that Rosicky was unlikely to make it against Portugal.

"The treatment usually lasts weeks rather than days," said Maurer. "He would have to endure the pain. It could be suppressed with some medicaments, but then the injury might get worse. He's more likely not to play.”

Czech Republic would be hoping for a swift recovery of their captain who has played a pivotal role in their progress to the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2012.

COMMENTS (3)

Hans Brinker | 11 years ago | Reply @Doshell Propivo: Why don't you have respect for other countries, instead of demanding other countries change their laws to suit you? How ARROGANT! You are in Ukraine, where they haven't banned fireworks. Like I said fireworks are legal, in Russia and in Ukraine. When they are in England, and they say some bad words, or spit on the sidewalk, they can be locked up for life, which is what Western Countries do, put everyone in prison. And when you take money from a different entity or person than the one who committed the transgression, you are nothing more than a government-sanctioned thief. Social Justice, or forcing me to pay for the sins of other people. <

Doshell Propivo | 11 years ago | Reply Setting off fireworks in a crowd of 60,000 people has nothing to do with cultural differences but rather with safety and common sense. the fines are well deserved. Also, instead of crying about being "accepted," how about being respectful of customs and rules that are put in place for a tournament you are invited to? The Russians can blow their heads off every Saturday with fireworks back home and the state can sanction it. Knock yourselves out. But when you're abroad, at an international tournament, have some common courtesy and behave.