UEFA hit English FA with record fine

UEFA have fined England €110,000 following crowd trouble at last month's Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey.

UEFA have fined England €110,000 following crowd trouble at last month's Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey.

Europe's ruling body found the Football Association guilty of charges of racist abuse and pitch invasions by 'so-called' England during the match at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on April 2nd.

The fine is the largest handed out for a racism-related charge, UEFA spokesman Mike Lee said. Lee said its disciplinary committee had considered ordering England to play their next Group Seven qualifier, against Slovakia on June 11th at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium, behind closed doors.

But he said England's efforts to tackle racism had been taken into account and "at this stage ground closure was not appropriate".

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The cash-strapped FA said before the hearing that it could lose up to €3.2 million in revenue through having to play behind closed doors against the Slovaks.

England's 2-0 victory over Turkey was marred by two pitch invasions after the two second-half goals, racist chants and clashes with police who made 95 arrests.

On the eve of the UEFA meeting, the FA revealed plans for a crackdown on troublemakers, including life bans for any fans who ventured on to the pitch at England games.

FA officials also urged police and courts to take firm action against the hooligan element among England fans and promised new initiatives to combat racism at games.