The Football Association of Serbia (FSS) has been fined 80,000 Swiss francs and sanctioned with a partial stadium closure for the upcoming Euro qualifier against Albania, following incidents during Serbia’s match against England earlier this month.
The FSS confirmed today that FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee issued the ruling due to what it described as “inappropriate and discriminatory behavior” by a section of Serbian fans during the September 9 fixture at Belgrade’s “Rajko Mitić” stadium.
According to the Association, FIFA cited a series of security and organizational failures, including:
• the inability to maintain order inside and around the stadium,
• use of lasers and offensive gestures, words, and objects,
• disruptions during the performance of national anthems, and
• discriminatory conduct by certain fans.
As part of the sanction, Serbia will face Albania in Leskovac with a reduced crowd capacity, with at least 20 percent of seats — mostly behind the goals — left empty.
“The FSS is obliged to submit a detailed seating plan to FIFA at least ten days before the match, with the possibility of allocating part of the restricted sections to families, schoolchildren, or organizations dedicated to combating discrimination, pending FIFA’s approval,” the Association said.
The plan must also include visible anti-discrimination activities, such as players wearing themed shirts or displaying banners with relevant messages.
The FSS concluded by stating that it will comply with the decision and take “all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in the future.”
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