By Andrew Warshaw
September 30 – FIFA has ordered Ukraine to play next month’s potentially decisive World Cup qualifier against Poland in Kharkiv behind closed doors after fans hurled racial abuse during the win over San Marino earlier this month. The country has also been banned from playing in the Arena Lviv stadium for the whole of the 2018 World Cup qualification programme.
The October 11 clash is hugely significant in terms of the top two spots in Group H. England currently lead the standings, a point ahead of Ukraine and three ahead of the Poles.
FIFA said in a statement that “several racist and discriminatory incidents were apparently perpetrated by local supporters during the (San Marino) match, in particular by displaying neo-Nazi banners and by making monkey noises and gestures as well as Nazi salutes”.
FIFA also said there were “several incidents involving pyrotechnical devices” that violated safety regulations.
Ukraine, who thrashed the group minnows 9-0 in Lviv, were also fined CHF45,000 ($49,000).
According to Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE), Ukrainian supporters waved racist banners and a large T-shirt with the number 88 printed on it, which is a neo-Nazi code for ‘Heil Hitler’. FARE also reported that a group of 30 people were caught aiming monkey impersonations at Brazilian-born Ukraine international Edmar.
The FIFA sanction could be of considerable advantage to England in the race for group winners and an automatic place in next year’s finals in Brazil.
Ukraine’s final group game a few days later takes them to San Marino – a three point banker – while England face Montenegro and then Poland in consecutive games at Wembley in what promises to be a nail-biting climax to the qualification programme.
– Peru have also sanctioned to play their next official match behind closed doors following crowd disturbance incidents in the World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay on September 6. The Peruvian federation has been fined CHF20,000 ($22.000).
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