Legia Warszawa’s UEFA troubles continue as their fans once again spark controversy with pyrotechnics in Stockholm. Despite being allowed to attend the European conference league match against Djurgardens, the Polish club’s supporters could not resist setting off flares, landing the team in hot water with UEFA.
The match, which took place at the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm, saw Legia Warszawa’s fans setting off pyrotechnics in the 16th minute of the game, causing a 16-minute delay. The stunt was not only dangerous but also forced the referee to interrupt the game. Unfortunately, this was not the only incident of pyrotechnic use during the match. In the second half, Legia Warszawa’s fans repeated the offense, putting the club at risk of further penalties from UEFA.
This is not the first time Legia Warszawa has faced sanctions from UEFA for their fans’ behavior. In the previous season, the club was fined 80,000 euros for pyrotechnics during a match against Real Betis. Additionally, UEFA imposed a 17,500-euro fine on Legia Warszawa after a match against Dynamo Minsk. According to a report by weszlo.com, Legia Warszawa has paid over 2 million euros in fines over the past decade for their fans’ misbehavior.
The use of pyrotechnics in football stadiums is a serious safety concern, and UEFA takes a strong stance against it. In 2020, UEFA introduced stricter rules against pyrotechnics, with teams facing fines of up to 50,000 euros for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders, like Legia Warszawa, can face harsher penalties, including stadium closures and even expulsion from European competitions.
Despite the controversy, Legia Warszawa managed to advance to the next round of the European conference league, but it came at a cost. The team’s fans were forced to watch the match from behind closed doors, and the club will likely face additional fines and penalties from UEFA.
The Swedish police have launched an investigation into the incidents, and UEFA has promised to take action against Legia Warszawa. The Polish club’s management has condemned the actions of their fans, promising to take measures to prevent future incidents.
As Legia Warszawa prepares for the next round of the European conference league, they will have to do so without the support of their fans. The club’s management must take a hard stance against pyrotechnics and work to educate their fans about the dangers of this behavior. Only then can Legia Warszawa hope to restore its reputation and avoid further sanctions from UEFA.
Key Statistics:
* Legia Warszawa has paid over 2 million euros in fines to UEFA over the past decade for their fans’ misbehavior.
* UEFA fines for pyrotechnics can reach up to 50,000 euros for first-time offenders.
* Legia Warszawa was fined 80,000 euros for pyrotechnics during a match against Real Betis in the previous season.
* The Polish club was also fined 17,500 euros after a match against Dynamo Minsk.
Sources:
* UEFA.com
* Weszlo.com
* Omni.se
* LegiaWarszawa.pl
