UEFA fine Dynamo Zagreb 200,000 euros

Dynamo Zagreb have been fined 200,000 euros by UEFA after their supporters threw smoke bombs during UEFA Cup matches, European football's governing body said on Thursday.

Zagreb lost 1-0 at home to Spartak Moscow on November 27 and UEFA claimed bad organisation resulted in fans throwing projectiles on to the pitch.

UEFA said in a statement: “Dynamo have been fined 150,000 euros, with 50,000 euros suspended for three years following inappropriate behaviour by their supporters and the throwing of projectiles and smoke bombs during the 1-0 home defeat against Spartak Moscow on November 27.

“The disciplinary commission has also fined the Croatian champions 50,000 euros for throwing of projectiles during their 2-1 defeat at home to Udinese on December 3,” UEFA said, adding that Zagreb had three days to lodge an appeal.

The Udinese versus Dynamo game had to be interrupted for 10 minutes because of smoke bombs thrown on to the pitch. Dynamo Zagreb said they were shocked with the fine.

“I'm shocked with the amount of the fine. In my knowledge no other club has been so drastically punished for similar incidents,” said Dynamo Zagreb director Damir Vrbanovic.

Deputy premier Djurdja Adlesic said in a statement the fine shows that Croatia “will have to work on the most rigorous enforcement of a law that should finally end violence and unruly behaviour at sports events.”

Following a series of incidents, the government has prepared tough new measures which include that of temporary seizure of known hooligans' passports ahead of Croatian clubs playing abroad.

UEFA also said on Thursday that the experiment with five referees at the European under-19 championships in Cyprus in November had been “positive and that there would be no change of calendar for the Euro 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine, which came after doubts on the progress of completing work on stadiums on time.

Nations wishing to show initial interest in hosting the Euro 2016 tournament, such as France, have until March 9 next year to make themselves known, UEFA added. The final decision on the host nation would be taken by UEFA's executive committee on May 27 2010.