UEFA crackdown on racism, Lazio to play in partially closed Olimpico

Lazio's Stadio Olimpico stadium will be partially closed for their Europa League game against Celtic next month as UEFA has punished the club for fans' racist behavior. UEFA further claimed that its disciplinary panel has also threatened Lazio with one-game full stadium closure, suspended for a one-year probationary period. The club has also been fined 20,000 euros and has also been regularly punished by UEFA for chants and fascists salutes made by 'ultra' fan groups. The Italian Club reportedly will be appealing against “severe punishment”, although the sanctions align with UEFA's escalating scale in a discrimination case. 

READ: Euro 2020 Qualifiers: UEFA Press Charges On England And Bulgaria

READ: Boris Johnson Condemns Racism By Bulgarian Fans; Urges UEFA For Action

UK PM condemns racial comments

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson also condemned the racist comments by Bulgarian fans in the match between England and Bulgaria on Monday. PM Johnson tweeted in support of England coach Gareth Southgate and team for standing up against racial comments hurled by the Bulgarian fans at the Stadion Vasil Levski in Bulgaria. The match witnessed England thump Bulgaria by 6-0 courtesy of goals by Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Ross Barkley, and  Raheem Sterling. England players had earlier also stated that they would walk off the pitch if racial comments are hurled at them. 

Due to the racial abuses hurled, the game had to be halted twice even before half time and an announcement was made urging the fans to not hurl any more racial abuses. The three-step UEFA protocol was followed and the referee had a discussion with the team's respective captains. Bulgaria's captain Ivelin Popov even went near the stands to urge the fans to stop the chants but failed to have an impact. 

The game between France and Turkey on Monday further witnessed some drama as Turkey held off France from qualifying for the Euro 2020. Turkey after scoring a late equalizer to hold off France celebrated the goal by performing a military-style salute as a tribute to the Turkey soldiers fighting against Kurds in Syria. The UEFA has also reportedly instructed a probe in this issue as the body prohibits any political gestures on the field. Bulgaria's PM, Boyko Borissov has asked the head of Bulgaria's Football Union to resign after England's football players were subject to multiple racist attacks during a UEFA Euro Qualifier match on Monday evening.

(With inputs from agencies)

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