Football: Lazio hit out at UEFA ban

MILAN: Lazio have hit out at the ‘excessive’ sanctions handed down by European football’s ruling body Uefa that mean they have to play their next two home Europa League games behind closed doors.

The sanctions, announced by Uefa on Wedensday, relate to incidents during Lazio’s recent 2-0 win over German side Borussia Monchengladbach in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Lazio will now entertain Stuttgart in their last 16 return leg on March 14 in an empty Olympic stadium, and if they progress, fans will also be excluded from the home leg of their quarter-final.

The club were also fined $52,000 dollars for their fans’ racist behaviour and letting off smoke bombs during the Monchengladbach match.

Meanwhile, Didier Drogba will be allowed to play in Galatasaray’s Champions League clash against Schalke after objections over his eligibility thrown out by Uefa.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2013.