ENGLAND have been ordered to play their next UEFA competition game behind closed doors – with one more game suspended – after crowd trouble inside and outside Wembley Stadium at this summer’s Euro 2020 final.
The ban, which applies only to European competitions and not FIFA World Cup qualifiers, will be in place for England’s next UEFA Nations League game in June 2022.
There were serious disturbances when England played Italy on Sunday, July 11 as ticketless fans fought with stewards and police officers and forced their way into the stadium.UEFA’s disciplinary investigators have been looking at the behaviour of England fans amid what appeared to be an ineffective security operation around Wembley for England’s first appearance in a major final since 1966.
As well as the disciplinary investigation into events involving supporters inside and around the stadium, the FA faced another four charges relating to the behaviour of fans.
In addition to being ordered to play their next match behind closed doors and potentially a second – which is suspended for a probationary period of two years – for the “lack of order and discipline inside and around the stadium”, the FA has also been fined 100,000 euros (£84,560) for “the invasion of the field of play, for throwing of objects and for the disturbances during the national anthems”.
An FA statement read: “Although we are disappointed with the verdict, we acknowledge the outcome.
“We condemn the terrible behaviour of the individuals who caused the disgraceful scenes in and around Wembley Stadium at the Euro 2020 final, and we deeply regret that some of them were able to enter the stadium.
“We are determined that this can never be repeated, so we have commissioned an independent review, led by Baroness Casey, to report on the circumstances involved.”We continue to work with the relevant authorities in support of their efforts to take action against those responsible and hold them to account.”
The ugly scenes at July’s final have raised serious questions about the FA’s ability to host the World Cup in 2030 which it is considering bidding for with the other Home Nations and Ireland.
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