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CSKA to Play in Final
// Regulations
UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body upheld Sunday the result of UEFA Cup semi-final second leg match between PFC CSKA Moskva and Parma FC – 3-0. However, the Moscow club have been fined for the misbehaviour of their fans and ordered to play their next home UEFA club competition game behind closed doors.
Parma FC lodged a protest the day following their defeat demanding awarding them a forfeit victory (3-0) or annulling the result of the match. The protest was substantiated by the fact that Parma’s goalkeeper Luca Bucci suffered a serious trauma by a firecracker (exploded nearby) that was thrown from the stand. The player was immediately substituted and taken to the European Medical Center in Moscow after the game. The management of Parma deems that the incident dramatically impacted the result of the match.
The meeting of the Control and Disciplinary Body of UEFA took place on Sunday. Alonside the delegates of CSKA, Vladimir Radionov, secretary general of the Russian Football Union, presented the Russian side. The Italians put forward a video tape showing a firecracker exploding near Bucci and the confirmation from the European Medical Centre that the player had suffered a barotrauma.
The meeting lasted for two hours. The commission listened to the arguments of the both sides but did not take note of the confirmation from the hospital presented by the Italians claiming that Luca Bucci had a barotrauma. However, the representatives of CSKA showed another confirmation from the same hospital that, on the contrary, said that the goalkeeper was healthy. According to the version of the lawyers of CSKA, the Italians simply filled in a form with the required data. Parma FC declined to comment on this information alleging that Luca Bucci is still at hospital in Italy. They did not specify the diagnosis, though.
CSKA have been fined CHF 100,000 (ˆ64,635) and ordered to play the next home UEFA club competition match behind closed doors, with one match deferred for a probationary period. This punishment will automatically come into force, should any kind of misbehaviour of team’s fans reiterates within the next two year.
“The protest of the Italians was rejected without reverse,” Mr. Radionov commented on the results of the meeting. “This is an acceptable ruling for us. The most important thing is that CSKA will play in the UEFA Cup final. I think the Control and Disciplinary Body examined the case closely, taking into account all the facts revealed by us and the Italian side. The fine is usual for this kind of case. Nevertheless, both CSKA and the Russian Football Union must do their best to prevent such incidents in future.”
Parma FC were eligible to lodge an appeal with UEFA but refrained. Luca Baraldi, executive director of the club, stated on Monday: “We accept the ruling of UEFA. The fact that the Control and Disciplinary Body fined CSKA means that they realize the full responsibility for the behaviour of the fans that lies on the club and the serious damage that our team suffered.”
Alexey Zhuk
All the Article in Russian as of May 11, 2005
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