Denmark's Michael Gravgaard (C) tries to keep
a Danish supporter from hitting referee Herbert Fandel (L) during
the Euro 2008 vs Sweden qualifying match in Copenhagen 02 June,
2007. European football's governing body UEFA eased the sanction
against Denmark and will allow the nation to play its next four
matches at home. (AFP/SCANPIX/File)
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - European football's governing body UEFA
will allow Denmark to play its next four matches at home, easing sanctions
imposed after a fan attacked a referee in a game against Sweden, according
to local reports.
UEFA last week awarded Sweden a 3-0 victory over Denmark for their June
2 Euro 2008 qualifier after the match had to be stopped just minutes from
the end when a spectator assaulted German referee Herman Fander with the
score at 3-3.
As part of the sanctions, UEFA ordered Denmark to play its next four home
matches more than 250 kilometres from Copenhagen - effectively forcing
it to play abroad due to the country's small area and the lack of suitable
stadia at such a radius.
But on Monday, after it was made aware of the problem, UEFA's disciplinary
committee informed the Danish Football Federation (DBU) that Denmark would
be allowed to play the matches within the country's borders, according
to the Danish news agency Ritzau.
"If one of the potential stadiums were to be located at a distance
a little less than that indicated in the decision, UEFA would approve
this stadium, as long as it meets UEFA's security requirements,"
the committee wrote in a message to the DBU, Ritzau reported.
The committee stressed that it had always intended for the matches to
be played in Denmark, the news agency added.
"In our most creative moments after the sanctions were handed down
on Friday, we have of course toyed with the idea of playing at stadiums
abroad ... but we are abandoning those plans now and awaiting the appeal
before proceeding further," DBU spokesman Lars Berendt said in a
statement.
UEFA also ruled in its initial decision that Denmark's next match be played
behind closed doors.
Denmark has said it plans to appeal the decision concerning the next four
matches, which it considers particularly harsh.
However, it does not plan to appeal a 100,000 Swiss francs fine, nor the
three-match suspension handed down against veteran Danish international
Christian Poulsen for the red card he received from Fander in the 89th
minute of the match for punching Swedish rival Markus Rosenberg in the
stomach.
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