UEFA has announced the penalty for the English Football Association (FA) following the disturbances during the lost European Championship final against Italy at Wembley. England has to play two matches (one conditionally) without an audience and will also be fined €100,000.
The next match England will play under UEFA flag will therefore take place behind closed doors. That will be in June at the start of the new edition of the Nations League. Furthermore, England threatens an extra game without an audience in the next two years, if things go wrong again with the supporters of the country during that trial period.
Unbelievable footage of violence at Wembley tonight. A literal child gets punched by a full grown man and an Asian man is kicked repeatedly in the head by several people. Disgusting behaviour. pic.twitter.com/NLtvjgF8Fe
— Kyle Glen (@KyleJGlen) July 11, 2021
Before the European Championship final, Wembley was stormed by hundreds of unticketed supporters, who tried to force their way into the stadium. A significant number of fans also succeeded and television showed supporters sitting on the stairs during the match. Riots also broke out after the final and a total of 49 people were arrested in and around the stadium.
The FA will not appeal the penalty. “While we are disappointed with the verdict, we recognize the outcome of this decision by UEFA,” the Football Association said in a statement. “We condemn the appalling behavior of those who caused the outrageous scenes at and around Wembley during the EURO 2020 final, and we deeply regret that some of them were able to enter the stadium.” The FA has commissioned an independent investigation with the aim of preventing intrusion into the stadium in the future.
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