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Saturday November 14, 2009

Rangers fined for fans’ violent conduct

NYON: Scottish champions Rangers were on Thursday fined 20,000 euros by UEFA after their fans clashed with stewards at a Champions League match against Romanian side Unirea Urziceni.

Unirea were also fined ‚8,000 euros for lack of organisation at the Group G match that took place at the Ghencea Stadium in Bucharest on Nov 4.

“UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body has today fined Rangers FC ‚20,000 and ordered them to pay the cost of the damage to the stadium infrastructure caused as a result of the improper conduct of the Scottish club’s supporters at the UEFA Champions League Group G match against FC Unirea Urziceni in Romania on Nov 4,” read a UEFA statement.

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain had criticised the security set-up in the stadium and accused both security officials and local police of being heavy-handed.

Both clubs have three days to appeal against the decision.

Rangers have been punished for their fans’ behaviour at European games on a number of occasions in recent years.

In 2006 they were fined for discriminatory chanting and for attacking their opponents’ team coach during a game at Villarreal and they were also fined for improper conduct at a UEFA Cup match against Osasuna a year later.

Rangers’ fans went on the rampage in Manchester city centre during last season’s UEFA Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg, leading to a number of injuries and 46 arrests. — AFP

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