UEFA charges Spartak Moscow
NYON, Switzerland, Sept 14, (Agencies): Russian champion Spartak Moscow was charged by UEFA on Thursday after a fan fired a flare at the referee during a Champions League match.
UEFA said its disciplinary panel will judge the case on Sept 21.
UEFA’s options to punish Spartak include closing part or all of its stadium for a future game. Liverpool visits the Otkritie Arena — a 2018 World Cup venue — in Moscow on Sept 26. The flare rocketed out of the section holding visiting Spartak fans early in its 1-1 draw with Slovenian champion Maribor on Wednesday.
It landed in the center circle near German referee Denis Aytekin and burned out. The referee briefly stopped play.
Slovenian police said late Wednesday that two Spartak fans had been arrested in connection with the use of flares at Ljudski Vrt Stadium. Police didn’t specify whether the two fans were suspected of firing the flare which landed near Aytekin.
UEFA also charged Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk with flare use by fans in its 2-1 win over Napoli.
There were no charges for Napoli, whose fans fought with stewards at halftime. “Nothing was mentioned in the official reports about Napoli fans and stewards, therefore no proceedings have been opened for this,” UEFA said.
Former Champions League winning coach Arrigo Sacchi said there was nothing to do but cry after all three Italian clubs failed to win their opening Champions League games.
Serie A champions Juventus were whipped 3-0 by Barcelona at Camp Nou on Tuesday, while Napoli were beaten 2-1 by Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine on Wednesday.
Roma’s point in a goalless draw against Atletico Madrid was the only one won by Italian sides in the first match day.
“I’m sorry, we just have to weep,” former Italy manager Sacchi said on Premium Sport. “We got one point in three games. “Napoli never understood the movement of the Ukrainians in midfield, I saw a confused team with no ideas. They lacked legs.
“If you play in Europe like you do at Bologna then you’re going to lose, Shakhtar Donetsk deserved to win.