UEFA slap on Greece’s wrist
Greece got off lightly for its fans’ actions at the home match of soccer’s European Championship qualifiers against Turkey on March 24, as it was only punished with having to stage its next two home games at least 250 kilometers from Athens, along with a fine of about -61,000. The next games at home for Greece are against Hungary on June 2 and against Moldova on June 6. The Hellenic Football Federation has already planned to stage these games at Iraklion’s Pankrition Stadium, but had feared that these too would have to be played behind closed doors. Fans in the match against Turkey had thrown various objects, such as coins, lighters, flagpoles and fireworks at Turkish players. They also carried racist banners, according to UEFA, which also punished Greece for a «general lack of organization.»
