By Mark Baber
March 13 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeal against the spectator ban imposed on Hungary for its March 22 World Cup qualifier against Romania.
Hungary had already petitioned FIFA’s Appeal Committee, and lost. The appeal to CAS was its last chance to allow spectators into the stadium for this match.
CAS said it had dismissed the application for ‘provisional measures’, but failed to explain its decision, whilst saying that the arbitration in this matter is on-going and an award on the merits will be issued at the end of the CAS procedure.
FIFA reacted strongly to fans chanted anti-Semitic slogans and displayed offensive symbols during a friendly at home to Israel in August, ordering Hungary to play the match on March 22 behind closed doors.
“The members of the FIFA disciplinary committee were unanimous in condemning an abhorrent episode of racism, anti-Semitism….perpetrated by supporters of the Hungarian national team,” said a FIFA statement.
After four 2014 World Cup qualification games, Hungary currently sit second in UEFA Group D, behind the Netherlands but level on 9 points with Romania.
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