Serbia’s soccer association (FSS) has suspended Under-21 national team players Ognjen Mudrinski and Nikola Ninkovic for one year following their involvementin a brawl with England’s Under-21 players during a Euro 2013 qualifier on October 16. It has also banned Srdjan Maksimovic and Andreja Milutinovic of thecoaching staff from coaching duties at any level in Serbia for two years.
England won the match, 1-0, but fighting between the players and officials broke out immediately following thefinal whistle. England Under-21 left-back Danny Rose, who was sent off for kicking a ball into the crowd, complained of racial abuse from Serbian fans during and after the game. TheFSS continues to deny any racism charges, but video footage of the racist chanting on YouTube is abundant.
UEFA PresidentMichel Platini on Tuesday said Serbia would face tough sanctions if television footage proves that home fans were making monkey chants at Rose. The European soccer governing body willmake a determination when its disciplinary committee convenes on November 22.