Serbia’s recent Nations League programme has ended with a heavy disciplinary bill and a closed-stadium order for the national team’s next home fixture. UEFA has imposed sanctions totalling €129,000 on the Football Association of Serbia following incidents across matches against Greece and the Netherlands.
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The most serious consequence is that Serbia must play behind closed doors when Germany visit on 13 November. The punishment follows the two home games played during the September window, against Greece on 24 September and the Netherlands three days later.
Those fixtures brought a stated combined penalty of €89,000. UEFA cited racist conduct by supporters, the display or communication of material deemed unsuitable for a sporting occasion, the lighting of flares and a pitch invasion.
The sanctions include a €50,000 fine connected to racist behaviour, €22,500 for inappropriate messages, €2,000 for pyrotechnics and €15,000 for supporters entering the playing area, alongside the order to shut the stadium completely for the Germany match.
The November calendar
A further €40,000 relates to Serbia’s away match in the Netherlands on 4 October. That amount is made up of two €20,000 penalties, one for racist or discriminatory behaviour and another for improper messages at a sporting event. Racist chanting was specifically identified among the incidents.
Serbian supporters have also been barred from buying tickets for the team’s next away match. The measure would apply to the 16 November trip to Greece, but it has been suspended for a probationary period of two years.
