Hungary appealing FIFA penalty for racism at match

The Hungarian Football Federation says it is appealing a FIFA ruling forcing it to play its next World Cup qualifier in an empty stadium after fans shouted anti-Semitic slogans at Israel during a friendly in August.

The federation says on Wednesday it has notified FIFA of its decision to file the appeal by the mid-January deadline.

FIFA fined Hungary and ordered it to play behind closed doors on March 22, against neighboring Romania.

Political and ethnic tensions arising mostly from the fate of a large Hungarian minority in Romania usually add extra interest to matches between the teams.

Hungary's far-right Jobbik party said on Tuesday it wants to hold a protest outside the stadium during the match so Hungarian players can hear fans' support despite the ban.