Uefa investigates crowd trouble at Dnipro’s draw with Copenhagen
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Version 0 of 1. Uefa has opened an investigation into the crowd trouble which marred Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier between Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Copenhagen in Ukraine. Copenhagen fans had to seek refuge under the stands after being attacked by what appeared to be Dnipro supporters and the start of the second half in Kiev was delayed by 15 minutes. Uefa received a report on Thursday morning and “an investigation has been opened against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk for crowd disturbance and insufficient organisation”. The matter will be decided on 14 August, at Uefa’s next disciplinary meeting. The return match is scheduled for 6 August after the opening leg ended 0-0. Dnipro fans have said they were provoked by a Russian flag being waved by Copenhagen supporters but that has been vehemently denied by the Danish club and its supporters’ club. Copenhagen said that fans were searched and their flags and banners checked by Copenhagen staff and local security personnel and “no Russian flags were found”. None of the local, Uefa or Danish security people at the ground saw any Russian flag, the club added. “This is an unacceptable security breach that simply cannot take place either in Danish or European stadiums,” Copenhagen said in a statement. The Ukrainian army is fighting with pro-Russia separatists in the east of the country. Uefa has decided that Russian and Ukrainian teams cannot be drawn against each other but is allowing matches to take place in both countries. |