November 3 – Serbian coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic insists he will take charge of next week’s winner-takes-all Euro 2020 playoff at home to Scotland despite a one-match touchline ban handed out by UEFA for his team’s late arrival for a Nations League game last month.
“I will be on the bench against Scotland,” Tumbakovic told a video news conference as he looked ahead to Serbia’s attempt to clinch a berth in next year’s finals.
UEFA issued the ban and fined the Serbian’s FA €20,000 for a delayed kick-off in their 1-0 Nations League home defeat by Hungary last month. Serbia came out of the tunnel several minutes late at Red Star stadium for the Group B3 match on October 11 and UEFA said it had also fined Tumbakovic €5,000 for being the prime culprit.
UEFA did not specify, however, whether Tumbakovic has to serve the ban against Scotland when Serbia will attempt to reach their first European Championship as an independent nation, or for the Nations League visit to Hungary on November 15.
“The Control, Ethics and Disciplinary body has decided to fine the Football Association of Serbia 20,000 for being responsible for the late kick off,” UEFA said in a statement.
“It has also decided to order the suspension of Serbia’s coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic for one UEFA competition match in which he would otherwise participate and fine him with 5,000 euros.”
The winner of the eagerly anticipated Serbia-Scotland clash in Belgrade will clinch a Euro 2020 Group D berth alongside England, Croatia and the Czech Republic.
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