UEFA Opens Investigation Into Abandonment Of Italy-Serbia

UEFA has announced the commencement of an investigation into the abandonment of yesterday's Italy-Serbia match in Genoa, the organization announced today.

The Euro 2012 qualifier scheduled for the Estadio Luigi Ferraris was halted six minutes after a kick-off that had been delayed 35 minutes due to disturbances amongst the crowd. Those disturbances have been attributed to traveling Serbian supporters who used the match as a venue for political protest. After various disturbances, including pitch invasions and flares thrown onto the field, the match was suspended.

Now UEFA will compile reports for various officials on the scene and submit a report to the organization's Control and Disciplinary Body for review. According to UEFA's web site, a proposed date to hear the case has been set for Tuesday, October 28.

Should the body find a party at fault, discipline could be enforced per Article 14 of UEFA's Disciplinary Regulations:

Article 14    Disciplinary measures against member associations and clubs

¹ The following disciplinary measures may be imposed against member associations and clubs in accordance with Article 53 of the UEFA Statutes:

a) warning,
b) reprimand,
c) fine,
d) annulment of the result of a match,
e) order that a match be replayed,
f) deduction of points,
g) awarding of a match by default,
h) playing of a match behind closed doors,
i) stadium closure,
j) playing of a match in a third country,
k) disqualification from competitions in progress and/or exclusion from future competitions,
l) withdrawal of a title or award,
m) withdrawal of a licence.

² A fine shall be no less than EUR 100 and no more than EUR 1,000,000.