miercuri, 15 august 2007

CNN: UEFA to investigate Lazio clashes


Articol aparul azi pe CNN

ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- UEFA are to review the Champions League third qualifying round match between Lazio and Dinamo Bucharest which was marred by violence and racist chants, European soccer's governing body said on Wednesday.

Five Romanians were injured in clashes with Lazio fans and one remains in hospital after being stabbed in the side. Inside the ground, Lazio's well-known right wing element chanted racist slogans during Tuesday's 1-1 first leg draw.

Lazio finished the game with nine men after Valon Behrami was sent off for a two-footed challenge and Mutarelli received a second yellow card .

Dinamo's Lucian Goian received a red card for a second bookable offense in injury time.

"We have to await the referee and observer reports before deciding whether to launch and disciplinary action, but we are looking into what went on at Lazio," a UEFA spokesman told reporters.

"If the violence happened outside of the ground then unfortunately that is a matter for the police and authorities in Italy.

"But we had concerns about racism before the game and if that is the case, then as you know we take a zero tolerance approach on racism."

Earlier this month UEFA threatened clubs with expulsion from its prestigious competitions and referees were ordered to stop matches immediately if there was any racist or violent behavior on the pitch or in the stands.

Lazio have been punished by UEFA on three previous occasions over violent and racist behavior, including being forced to play behind closed doors after racist abuse and crowd disturbances during a UEFA Cup in 2004.

"There is no doubt that there is a violent history surrounding Lazio fans and we always seem to have problems. In fact there was a question mark hanging over their stadium before this game," the UEFA spokesman said.

"But UEFA can not deal with this alone, it is a wider, social problem across many countries which needs to be tackled in a very tough way by all the authorities."

Italy has beefed up stadium security following revulsion at the death of a policeman in riots outside a match at Catania in February. The championship was briefly suspended as a warning but violence outside stadiums is still a problem.

A number of last season's European matches were dogged by violence and racism, while UEFA and the European Union are due to deliver a new plan to deal with the upsurge in soccer-related incidents later this year.

Meanwhile, Lazio are trying to stay positive despite their Champions League hopes being hit by a draw and the violence before kickoff.

The Rome club, who made little progress in the close season transfer market due to financial constraints, also had two players sent off in the third qualifying round tie and lost four to injury.

Brazilian defender Emilson Cribari was the worst affected and was due to undergo surgery on his broken jaw on Wednesday, making him doubtful for the second leg on August 28.

"It is all still open. Now we play the match in Romania and I think we have a 50 percent chance of going through," Lazio coach Delio Rossi told reporters.

"We must pick up the dead and injured and we will try just the same."

Rossi's words were unfortunate given the violent scenes outside the Stadio Olimpico.

Trist ce s-a intamplat, dar nu are Dinamo norocul ala sa fie sanctionata Lazio!...

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