Uefa hands Italy 3-0 win after Serbia violence in Genoa - 29/10/2010

Source : BBC Sport

Uefa has awarded Italy a 3-0 win over Serbia after their Euro 2012 qualifier in Genoa on 12 October was abandoned.

The Group C encounter was stopped after six minutes as Serbia fans threw missiles and fireworks on to the pitch.

Serbia, who plan to appeal, must play behind closed doors in their next game against Northern Ireland with a second match facing a suspended sanction.

Italy were also punished as the governing body hit them with a suspended one-match stadium ban.

The Italian football federation (FIGC) released a statement which confirmed the punishment as "a 3-0 victory in favour of Italy and two games behind closed doors for Serbia, of which one is conditional".

It continued: "Italy have been given a conditional one game behind closed doors.

"This is the decision of the disciplinary commission of Uefa which met today (Friday) in Nyon, based on the abandonment of the game between Italy and Serbia on 12 October in Genoa following the crowd unrest by Serbian fans."

There had been speculation that Serbia would face much harsher sanctions, including a possible ban from European competition.

But they have been fined 120,000 euros and they will not be allowed to take fans to their remaining three away qualifiers in 2011 - against Estonia on 29 March, Northern Ireland on 2 September and Slovenia on 11 October.

Serbia also have the suspended threat of a second game behind closed doors if any comparable incident occurs in the next two years.

Serbia have said they will appeal against the 3-0 result ruling.

"We are not happy with that part of the UEFA verdict and we will appeal for a replay of the match because we think the only fair decision is to have a winner determined on the playing field," said Serbian FA president Tomislav Karadzic.

"We don't think justice has been done there but as for the other sanctions taken against us, we can't really complain and the measures against Italy are also what we expected."

The ruling means that Serbia's home game against Italy next October will be played in front of a crowd.

"We are not worried at all that Serbia v Italy will be played with fans," said Italian FA director general Antonello Valentini.

"As we have underlined, we want to keep a good relationship with the Serbian team, officials and fans."

Italy face a 100,000 euros fine because its security operation failed to stop Serbian fans entering the Luigi Ferraris stadium with an arsenal of fireworks and flares.

The victory has lifted the Azzurri into sole possession of top spot in Group C on 10 points, three clear of second-placed Slovenia.

Serbia remain fifth with four points from four games and their next match - which will be played behind closed doors - is at home to Northern Ireland on 25 March next year.

Uefa's disciplinary panel issued its verdicts after the match was stopped in the seventh minute when the score was 0-0.

Scottish referee Craig Thomson had already delayed kick-off by 45 minutes because of violence outside the ground.

Violence continued into the night and at least 16 people, including two police officers, were injured.

Eight Serbia fans, including the alleged ringleader of the rioting, were arrested in Italy after the match and at least 19 others were detained as they attempted to travel home.