The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) imposes a partial closure of the one-match stadium – 5,000 seats in total – at Fenerbahçe after its supporters launched ‘Putin’ chants at Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv
Fenerbahçe have been handed a one-match partial stadium closure, suspended for two years, after their fans chanted the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a game against Ukraine-based Dynamo Kyiv, it said European football’s governing body on Friday, August 5 (Saturday, August 6, Manila time).
Chants of ‘Vladimir Putin’ by some Fenerbahçe fans came after Vitaliy Buyalskyi gave Kyiv the lead in the 57th minute of the Champions League qualifier which the Ukrainian side won 2-1 the month last after extra time thanks to the goal of Oleksandr Karavaev.
An online backlash followed, condemning the Istanbul team’s supporters and calling on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to take action against the club.
UEFA’s appeal body has fined Fenerbahce €50,000 and ordered the partial closure of their Sukru Saracoglu stadium – at least 5,000 seats – for the next UEFA club competition game that they will welcome.
He said the punishment was for ‘throwing objects and conveying a provocative message of an offensive nature, i.e. illicit chanting’ and that the partial stadium closure was subject to a ‘probationary period’ of two year.
Fenerbahce previously said the chants lasted 20 seconds and were prompted by some Kyiv players’ “exaggerated” celebrations after the goal.
The club’s hopes of making it into Europe’s top-flight Champions League were dashed by the second qualifying round defeat.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, describing its actions as a “special military operation”. – Rappler.com
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