“Since the Ukrainian team will play its next home match (a decisive one in the preliminary competition for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil – Ed.) on October 11, FIFA Appeal Committee will not have enough time to take a decision on this issue. Thus, the sanctions imposed by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee are suspended. The decision on the appeal will be taken later,” FIFA announced as reported by LIGA Business Inform.
According to earlier reports, UEFA Vice President Hryhoriy Surkis announced that spectators will be allowed to the upcoming game between Ukraine and Poland on October 11 in Kharkiv.
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On September 27, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee imposed sanctions on the Ukrainian national football team. These were based on reports from the referee and inspector of the Ukraine-San Marino game that took place on September 6 in Lviv, as well as a report from a FARE observer on racism and discrimination which, in his opinion, Ukrainian supporters expressed by hanging nao-Nazi banners, imitating monkey sounds and gestures and demonstrating Nazi salutes.
The sanctions included the requirement to play Ukraine’s upcoming World Cup preliminary competition game on October 11 without spectators; the ban for the Ukrainian national team to play matches at Arena Lviv stadium through the end of the preliminary competition for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
