UEFA overturn Dinamo Zagreb points penalty

Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb on Friday had their Europa League points deduction replaced with a 75,000 euros fine and a three-year suspended ban from European competition.

European governing body UEFA had initially docked Dinamo three points following “serious crowd disturbances” involving their fans during a Europa League game at Romanian side FC Timisoara on October 1.

“After examining the written submission of both parties, the chairman of the Appeals Body complied with the identical request submitted by Dinamo Zagreb and the UEFA Disciplinary Inspector, and decided to replace the initial three-point deduction from the Croatian club with a 75,000 euros fine plus Dinamo’s disqualification from all UEFA competitions for a probationary period of three years,” read a statement on the UEFA website.

Dinamo had also been banned from allowing fans into their stadium for their next two Europa League home games, against Ajax on November 5 and Timisoara on December 17, and that sanction has been upheld.

The decision moves Dinamo off the bottom of Group A and above Timisoara, but they trail Ajax and Anderlecht by five points with two games remaining and only the top two sides in each group qualify for the next stage.