Fans group to make formal bid

Fans group to make formal bid

Published Jun. 18, 2013 7:15 a.m. ET

Lecce have been fined 15,000 euros and ordered to hold four Lega Pro matches behind closed doors after fans rioted at the Stadio Via del Mare.

After Carpi earned a 1-1 draw to complete a 2-1 aggregate play-off final victory over Lecce and seal promotion to Serie B, around 200 home fans invaded the pitch, damaging fittings and billboards before attacking stewards who were blocking their attempts to enter the changing rooms.

Both sets of players had managed to leave the field shortly before the violence broke out.

The intervention of police eventually forced the offenders out of the stadium but four officers were wounded and a police van was set on fire in the running battles that followed.

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A statement published on lega-pro.com read: "The incidents described are particularly serious. The subsequent penalties are therefore commensurate to the immediate damage caused but must also act as a preventative measure against the acts themselves.

"It has been decided to impose the following sanctions: a fine of 15,000 euros and the obligation to play four games behind closed doors."

Lecce, who were relegated from Serie A in 2012, were further demoted into the third tier of Italian football due to their involvement in match-fixing. But despite being tipped to dominate in the southern conference, the Giallorossi could only finish as runners-up to Trapani.

Bryan Jackson, the administrator of the stricken Second Division side, placed a June 19 deadline for final offers on the club last week.

But the fans consortium is confident it can agree a Creditors Voluntary Arrangement with Jackson - acting on behalf of accountancy firm BDO - and save the club.

Bob Garmory from Pars United, who is leading the BuyThePars initiative, said: "Tuesday will be an important day in the history of Dunfermline Athletic as its supporters and community make a formal bid to buy their club and stadium from the Administrator, and will signal the latest step in rebuilding this famous club.

"BuyThePars has made some fantastic progress so far and have raised significant amounts but we're still working hard to achieve our goal.

"Pars United will submit an offer for our club but it is critical for our fans and those in the community to continue to back the 'BuyThePars' campaign to make sure we are in the strongest possible position to achieve our goal."

Dunfermline were put into administration back in March in a bid to stave off a winding-up order launched by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

Dunfermline owe the taxman ?134,000 and also have further debts worth around ?8.5million outstanding to majority shareholder Gavin Masterton and other companies.

Jackson plans to meet with the club's creditors after Tuesday's deadline to discuss a CVA.

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