Russian fans back Serbia, UEFA punishes club19 April 2008 | 10:36 | Source: B92
NYON -- The Russian football champions Zenit are in trouble after their fans put up banners in support of Serbia over Kosovo.
The Union of European Football Associations, UEFA, said that the St. Petersburg club will have to pay CHF 10,000 in fines for their fans' behavior during two UEFA Cup games with Olympique Marseille.
During the first match in France, the Zenit supporters put up a banner in Russian reading, "We won't give Kosovo", while they had a message in French, "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia", ready for the return leg.
"The issue of Kosovo is a very sensitive one in the Balkans and the whole of Europe," the UEFA Disciplinary Commission said, in explanation of the decision to fine the club.
"At the same time, the Russian fans would not let French policemen remove the banners. UEFA will not allow the games played under its supervision to turn into political forums."