By Mark Baber
February 6 – The FIFA Appeal Committee has rejected the appeals lodged by the Hungarian Football Federation and the Bulgarian Football Union against the sanctions imposed last November for racist behaviour by their fans.
The Appeal Committee upheld the original decisions in their entirety.
Hungary’s next home 2014 World Cup qualifier against Romania on 22 March will be played without spectators, and a fine of CHF 40,000 has been imposed on the MLSZ.
Bulgaria will similarly play behind closed doors in their 2014 World Cup qualifier against Malta on 22 March. The BFU has been fined CHF 35,000.
Hungarian fans had sparked outrage by shouting anti-Semitic abuse during a friendly match against Israel on August 15.
Bulgarian supporters were accused of racism during a World Cup qualifier against Denmark on October 12.
The two federations have been warned about their future conduct, and should such incidents of a racist/discriminatory nature occur again, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee says it would impose harsher sanctions, which could include forfeiting a match, a points deduction, or disqualification from a competition.
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