Legia Warsaw fined for fans' behavior

By foxsports
Published

Legia Warsaw will have to play a Champions League match at a partially closed stadium because of fans' racist behavior, UEFA ruled Wednesday.

The north stand of Legia's Wojska Polskiego stadium will be shut on Aug. 27 when the Polish champion hosts Steaua Bucharest in the second leg of a playoff round match, European football's governing body said.

UEFA also ordered Legia to pay a 30,000-euro ($39,800) fine. Legia was punished because of fans' behavior in Champions League second-round qualifying matches last month against The New Saints of Wales.

UEFA has pledged faster and tougher action against discrimination after approving stricter sanctions since last season. ''The governing body has a policy of zero tolerance toward racism and discrimination on the pitch and in the stands,'' UEFA said in a statement.

Croatian champion Dinamo Zagreb played a third-round qualifier with the east section of its Maksimir Stadium closed, and was fined 25,000 euros ($33,150).

Legia has previously been punished by UEFA for behavior by fans. Two years ago, a green banner stating ''Jihad Legia'' in Arabic-style script was displayed before a Europa League match against Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv.

UEFA fined Legia 10,000 euros for a ''political, offensive or provocative'' act.