Stadium bans, fines, banners: How Uefa has dealt with racism over the last decade

England's Raheem Sterling and Montenegro fans during the match
England's Raheem Sterling walks away from Montenegro fans Credit: Action Images

European football's governing body have opened disciplinary proceedings into the racial abuse directed towards England players by Montenegrin fans. 

Raheem Sterling, one of those targeted in Podgorica on Monday night, called for football authorities to take "a proper stance," adding that a stadium ban should be considered. 

Telegraph Sport takes a look at recent punishments handed down by Uefa over the last decade, from fines to partial stadium closures and behind-closed-doors matches.

March 2019 - Uefa investigate alleged racist abuse of Callum Hudson--Odoi

As well as beginning an investigation into racial abuse in the Montenegro match, Uefa also appointed an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector on Tuesday to evaluate Chelsea's complaint that Callum Hudson-Odoi was racially abused in their Europa League last 16 match with Dynamo Kiev.  If 'sufficient evidence' is found, they will open disciplinary proceedings.

Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi at the end of the match
Chelsea complained to Uefa after winger Hudson-Odoi was subjected to monkey chants from some Kiev fans Credit: Reuters

February 2019 - No punishment for Chelsea
Uefa decide to end disciplinary proceedings against Chelsea over alleged racist chanting during the club's Europa League tie at MOL Vidi in December. Chelsea's travelling fans were heard chanting antisemitic abuse directed against Tottenham fans during December's 2-2 group stage draw against the Hungarian side.

November 2018- Greece handed partial stadium ban and fined £8,500
Greek Football Federation fined £8,500 and ordered to partially close their stadium for their next game after racist behaviour in their 1-0 win over Estonia. Also ordered to display banner with the wording “#EqualGame” during next game.

October 2018 - Romania handed stadium ban and fined £44,500
Romanian FA slapped with a £44,500 fine for racist behaviour of its supporters during their Nations League goalless draw with Serbia. Their next match was also ordered to be played behind closed doors following the racist chants and banners displayed by fans. 

September 2018 - Poland handed partial stadium closure
Poland made to close off at least 1,000 seats during their next Uefa competitive home match following racist chants in their Nations League group stage match in Italy. The "#EqualGame" banner must also be visible in the affected area of the stadium.

August 2018 - Red Star Belgrade handed stadium ban and fined £61,500
Red Star Belgrade play Champions League play-off first leg match against FC Salzburg behind closed doors for the racist behaviour of its supporters against FK Sūduva. Also made to pay £61,500 fine. 

August 2018 - Lyon handed two-game stadium ban
Lyon charged with number of offences, including racist behaviour, following Europa League round of 16 match with PFC CSKA Moskva in March. 

Other acts include setting off fireworks, crowd disturbances and blocked stairways, with club ordered to pay £85,500 total fines and play next two Uefa home matches behind closed doors, second of which is suspended for two years.

June 2018 - Atletico Madrid handed partial stadium closure 
Europa League final marred by crowd disturbances between Marseille and Atletico Madrid. Charges against the former include setting off fireworks and displaying a racist banner. Result is partial closure of stadium, including at least 3,000 seats, in next home match. No fine for banner.

June 2018 - Zenit Saint Petersburg fined £42,700 for racism
Zenit Saint Petersburg handed £42,700 fine for the racist behaviour of its supporters in Europa League round of 16 match with RB Leipzig.

March 2018 - No punishment for Atalanta BC
Uefa close disciplinary proceedings against Atalanta BC for alleged racist or discriminatory behaviour in Europa League round of 32 match with Borussia Dortmund.

December 2017 - Zenit St Petersburg handed partial stadium and £10,000 fine
Zenit St Petersburg sanctioned after fans displayed a banner praising former Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladic during a 2-1 home win over Macedonian side Vardar Skopje in the Europa League. The Russian club were found guilty of “racist behaviour” and also ordered to pay a £10,000 fine and display a banner with the words “#EqualGame” and the UEFA logo on it.

October 2017  - Spartak Moscow handed partial stadium 
Russian side Spartak Moscow ordered to close at least 500 seats in their next European home match as punishment for racist behaviour by supporters. Uefa opened disciplinary proceedings after Liverpool alleged fans at the Spartak Acadamy made monkey charts towards winger Bobby Adekanye. They also ordered the club to display banner on the empty seats reading "#EqualGame"

August 2014 - Uefa clamp down on Champions League racist incidents 
Steaua Bucharest, Debrecen and Maribor hit with partial stadium bans, along with FC Chikhura Sachkhere who were given the same punishment for an incident in Europa League qualifying.

July 2015 - Croatia handed two-game stadium ban and fined £70,892
Croatia docked one point in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, fined and ordered to play two matches behind closed doors after a Nazi symbol became visible during their match with Italy.

Already playing that game behind closed doors, the match made headlines after a chemical agent was put on the grass at Split’s Poljud stadium, leaving a swastika burned onto the pitch. Croatia made to pay £70,892, while their two-game ban included England's Uefa Nations League match in October 2018.

General view during the match
England played their Nations League match in Croatia behind closed doors after the home team were punished by Uefa Credit: Action Images

March 2015 - Croatia handed stadium ban
Despite a partial stadium closure, racist chanting was heard from home fans at the Maksimir Stadion against Norway, leading to their match with June being played behind closed doors.

December 2014- Croatia handed partial stadium for racist behaviour
Croatia's European Championship qualifying match with Norway played under a partial stadium closure following orders from Uefa. Croatia supporters twice disrupted their team’s 1-1 draw with Italy at San Siro in November, forcing the teams off the pitch and riot police into action.

Croatia’s football federation was also fined £58,500 over the incidents – the same financial punishment imposed by Uefa when Croatia fans aimed monkey noises at Italy’s Mario Balotelli in a Euro 2012 finals match in Poland.

September 2015 - Romania handed stadium ban
Romania were ordered to play their Euro 2016 qualifier in an empty stadium after Uefa fined them for racist behaviour by supporters in matches against Hungary and Greence. The Romanian Football Federation was fine a total of £80,000 for crowd trouble, including racist behaviour against Greece.

April 2013 - Dynamo Kiev ordered to play behind closed doors 
Ukraine club found guilty of "racist conduct by supporters" at Olympic National Sports Complex during games against Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux. Dynamo forced to play their next game in European competition in an empty stadium, but the second game of their punishment is deferred for three years.

January 2013 - Uefa turn a blind eye to Boateng abuse
Then AC Milan midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng led his team-mates off the pitch during a friendly against lower league side Pro Patria after insulting chants from the stands. Giancarlo Abete, president of the Italian Football Association, said the abuse of Boateng was “unspeakable and intolerable” but Uefa failed to intervene, arguing that the incident lied outside their jurisdiction.

December 2012 - Serbia fined £65,000 for racism
Racist chants from the crowd and violence on the pitch marred Serbia's Under-21 team's game against England during a European Championships qualification play-off. Full back Danny Rose was subject to monkey chants from the stand, kicking a ball into the stands, before being accosted by a number of Serbian players.

Danny Rose (L) of England is led away by team-mate Jack Butland of England after the Under 21 European Championship Play Off
Danny Rose is led away by Jack Butland after being subject to monkey chants in England's under-21 match against Serbia under-21 Credit: Getty Images 

October 2012 - Lazio fined £32,500 for racism
Lazio were fined £32,500 by Uefa for the improper conduct of their fans during the Europa League tie against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Loud monkey chanting from the away fans was directed at Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon and Andros Townsend during the Group J match, which ended 0-0

June 2012 - Russia and Spain handed combined £40,335 fine for racism
Uefa's disciplinary panel found both countries guilty of "improper conduct of its fans". Russia was fined £24,203 and Spain £16,137. Russian fans made monkey noises at the Czech Republic full-back Theodor Gebre Selassie during Euro 2012 while Spain fans targeted abuse at Italy forward Balotelli.

April 2012 – Porto fined £16,700 for racism
Six weeks after Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was subjected to monkey chants by the Portuguese side’s fans during a Europa League match back in February, Uefa finally got round to punishing Porto.

Sept 2011 Bulgaria FA fined £34,230 for racism
Bulgaria’s then coach Lothar Matthaus issued an apology at the time for the conduct of a minority of home fans who directed monkey chants at Ashley Young, Cole and Theo Walcott during the second half of the Euro 2012 qualifier in Sofia.

What do you think Uefa should do about the racist chants during the match between England and Montenegro yesterday?  Tell us your suggestions in the comment section below.

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