FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany, as a co-organizer of the Euro 2024 tournament, has been penalized by UEFA with a fine for failing to adequately control fan access to the pitch. This security breach primarily revolved around fans attempting to take selfies with football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
The disciplinary actions from UEFA were detailed in a recent release, outlining fines totaling 20,000 euros ($21,500) for the German soccer federation (DFB). These penalties stem from incidents during Portugal’s matches against the Czech Republic and Turkey.
Across the Euro 2024 group stage, UEFA has issued fines to 22 out of the 24 participating national federations, accumulating nearly 1.3 million euros ($1.4 million). Notably, only Slovakia and Spain were exempt from these disciplinary measures.
Germany’s fines are specifically attributed to “order and security” shortcomings at the games and insufficient “protection of the playing area.” These issues became prominent as multiple fans breached security to get onto the field, seeking photographs with Cristiano Ronaldo both during and after matches.
While Ronaldo did engage with fans, including posing for a photo with a young boy during one game, he also displayed visible frustration with the repeated security failures. These incidents prompted UEFA to announce a review and усиление мер безопасности at stadiums throughout the tournament to prevent future occurrences.
Beyond Germany’s security-related fine, UEFA’s disciplinary report highlighted a range of other offenses and subsequent penalties. A stadium brawl between fans of Georgia and Turkey prior to their match in Dortmund resulted in fines of 30,000 euros ($32,200) for Georgia and 25,000 euros ($26,900) for Turkey.
Numerous federations, including Albania, Serbia, Denmark, Romania, Switzerland, Hungary, and Slovenia, faced charges for transmitting “provocative and unfit messages.” These infractions included the display of nationalist flags and slogans on banners within stadiums.
Furthermore, “throwing objects” emerged as a common offense, reflecting incidents where beer cups and other projectiles were hurled at players, coaches, and even pitch invaders. Serbia, Croatia, and Austria incurred some of the most substantial fines for these actions, with penalties reaching up to 68,625 euros ($73,600).
Disruptions to national anthems also led to sanctions, with England and Romania each fined 10,000 euros ($10,730) for incidents where opposing teams’ national anthems were disturbed.
These widespread disciplinary actions underscore UEFA’s commitment to maintaining order and security throughout Euro 2024, addressing issues ranging from pitch invasions driven by selfie requests to more serious breaches of conduct by fans.
AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
