UEFA spares Spartak Moscow closed-stadium sanction

Published Dec. 17, 2010 10:18 a.m. ET

foxsports

Spartak Moscow has avoided having to play its next Europa League home match in an empty stadium after its fans' pitch invasion in Slovakia.

UEFA says Spartak was guilty of improper conduct by supporters during a Dec. 8 Champions League match away to Zilina. Fans also threw fireworks on to the field.

But UEFA deferred a one-match stadium closure sanction for a two-year probationary period and fined the Russian club ?75,000 ($99,000).

UEFA's disciplinary panel also imposed a two-match ban on Spartak player Ibson for his red card against Zilina.

He should serve the suspension when Spartak faces Switzerland's FC Basel in the Europa League round-of-32 in February.

The sanctions can be appealed.