Croatia, Turkey in trouble over fans

PARIS: Uefa said yesterday it had opened disciplinary proceedings against the soccer federations of Croatia and Turkey for crowd trouble during two games at the Euro 2016 tournament in France last week.

They could face sanctions due to fans “throwing objects and setting off fireworks” during Friday’s matches, and a hearing into the unrest would take place tomorrow, European soccer’s governing body said.

Croatia faces additional charges over alleged “racist behaviour”, while Turkey faces charges linked to a pitch invasion by supporters.

The incidents happened when Turkey played Spain in Nice and during Croatia’s clash with the Czech Republic in Saint-Etienne, the latest crowd trouble to hit the tournament.

Friday’s match in SaintEtienne was held up after Croatian fans threw flares onto the pitch and began fighting among themselves.

Eight flares and other objects landed on the pitch near to riot police, deployed in front of the section housing Croatia’s supporters.

The trouble broke out in the dying minutes of a game that Croatia were leading 2-1. The final score was 2-2.

Croatia, sanctioned three times during qualifying, was already facing a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday after fans threw flares and ran onto the pitch at the team’s opening match against Turkey in Paris.

A police official said 11 fans some carrying neo-Nazi banners, were detained in Nice before Friday’s Spain-Turkey match. – Reuters