Chaos: Turkey and Georgia fans clash in the stands before the match on June 18. — Reuters
FRANKFURT: UEFA have fined their tournament co-organiser Germany for failing to stop selfie-seekers from coming onto the field to get photos taken with Cristiano Ronaldo at the European Championship.
UEFA published a slew of disciplinary rulings on Monday that included two fines totaling ¤20,000 (RM101,224) for the German football federation.
The total amount of fines levied across the 36-game group stage, including some that were previously announced, was almost ¤1.3mil (RM6mil) across 22 of the 24 national federations at the tournament. Only Slovakia and Spain were exempt.
The charges against Germany related to “order and security” at games and “protection of the playing area” at Portugal’s games against the Czech Republic and Turkey.
Multiple fans have invaded the field to take photos with Ronaldo during and after games. The Portugal star posed for one in-game photo with a young boy but grew visibly frustrated at the repeated security failures during the game against Turkey.
UEFA announced they would review and increase security at stadiums.
After a brief brawl between Georgia and Turkey fans in the stadium before their game at Dortmund, UEFA announced fines on Monday of ¤30,000 (RM151,844) for the Georgian football federation and ¤25,000 (RM126,537) for Turkey.
Other disciplinary charges included transmitting provocative and unfit messages, such as nationalist flags and slogans on banners, against federations including Albania, Serbia, Denmark, Romania, Switzerland, Hungary and Slovenia.
At a tournament where hurling beer and drinks cups at players, coaches and field invaders has been a regular sight, some of the biggest fines were for charges of “throwing objects.” — AP
