UEFA approves stricter sanctions against racist conduct
The UEFA Executive Committee has approved stricter sanctions against racist conduct in the latest edition of its Disciplinary Regulations, which will come into force on 1 June 2013.
The committee took the decision at its meeting in London yesterday and today, ahead of the XXXVII Ordinary UEFA Congress tomorrow.
The new UEFA Disciplinary Regulations are notable in that they include tougher sanctions to efficiently fight racist behaviour at football matches.
This is in line with UEFA’s zero-tolerance policy, which was also underlined by a resolution adopted by the Professional Football Strategy Council (PFSC) on 27 March 2013 in Sofia.
A separate resolution to fight racism will be put forward to the XXXVII Ordinary UEFA Congress.
The new disciplinary regulations include the following sanctions in the event of discriminatory behaviour:
– By spectators: a partial stadium closure for the first offence and a full stadium closure for the second such offence coupled with a €50,000 fine; and
– By players or officials: a minimum ten-match ban
The minimum ban for insulting match officials has been increased from two to three matches, and assault on match officials will now result in a minimum 15-match ban (previously ten-match ban).
Furthermore, additional power has been granted to the UEFA disciplinary bodies, allowing them to take action should a UEFA member association fail to punish, or punish in an inappropriate manner, offences harming the essence of football, and notably offences of match-fixing, corruption and doping.
At the same time, the UEFA Executive Committee decided to remove any period of limitation for offences of corruption/bribery and match-fixing, therefore allowing disciplinary action to be taken, irrespective of when such an infringement to the rules occurred.
From UEFA