UEFA threatens Marseille with 1-season ban for fan disorder

FILE – In this Wednesday, May 16, 2018 file photo, fans set off flares during the Europa League Final soccer match between Marseille and Atletico Madrid at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France. UEFA has on Wednesday, July 25 threatened Marseille with a one-season ban from European competition for persistent fan disorder including incidents at the Europa League final in May. UEFA says its disciplinary panel deferred the suspension for a two-year probationary period. Marseille must pay a fine of 100,000 euros ($117,000) and compensate final host Lyon. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, file)

NYON, Switzerland — UEFA has threatened Marseille with a one-season ban from European competition for persistent fan disorder, including incidents at the Europa League final in May.

European football’s ruling body says its disciplinary panel deferred the suspension for a two-year probationary period.

Marseille must pay a fine of 100,000 euros ($117,000) and compensate Lyon, which hosted the final, for damage caused by fans.

In this season’s Europa League, Marseille must play its next home game in an empty stadium, and close both ends of the Velodrome for the second.

Marseille supporters misbehaved during the 3-0 loss against Atletico Madrid at near-neighbor Lyon.

UEFA says incidents in previous rounds, when Marseille played Salzburg and Leipzig, plus other disciplinary charges were also taken into account.

Read more...