UEFA fines Zenit over stadium incidents

UEFA fines Zenit over stadium incidents

Published Dec. 12, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

Zenit St. Petersburg has been fined by UEFA but escaped a stadium ban after smoke from flares ignited by fans twice stopped a Champions League home match.

UEFA says the Russian club must pay €50,000 ($66,000) for several disciplinary offenses, but stopped short of ordering matches played in an empty Petrovsky Stadium.

Zenit is in the Champions League last-16 draw on Friday.

Zenit's 0-0 draw with APOEL on Nov. 23 was stopped for three minutes in the first half until thick smoke cleared.

ADVERTISEMENT

German referee Felix Brych also took players off the field during a seven-minute, second-half stoppage.

UEFA says it also punished Zenit because fans displayed ''illicit banners'' and invaded the field against APOEL, and during a 1-0 home win against Shakhtar Donetsk.

share