Switzerland's Eray Comert, left, and Serbia's Dusan Vlahovic in action during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Switzerland and Serbia at the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)

UEFA punishes Serbia for fan misconduct including trying to burn Albania flag

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA punished Serbia’s soccer federation on Friday for racist acts by fans at two Nations League games, including trying to burn an Albania flag in Switzerland.

On Monday, UEFA’s executive committee is set to confirm Serbia and Albania as co-hosts of the Under-21 European Championship in 2027.

At a Switzerland-Serbia game last month, visiting fans were filmed trying to set light to an Albania flag. The Swiss team, including captain Granit Xhaka, typically fields players with family ties to Albania or Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

UEFA said its disciplinary committee charged the Serbian federation for “racist and/or discriminatory behavior” in Switzerland on Nov. 15 and at home to Denmark three days later, plus other incidents including fans showing an “illicit banner.”

Serbia’s federation was banned from selling tickets for the team’s next two away games in UEFA competitions, and must close parts of the stadium at two home games.

Serbia’s Nemanja Maksimovic, center, and Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka in action during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Switzerland and Serbia at the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)

The first parts of the sanctions will apply in March when Serbia faces Austria in a two-leg Nations League promotion playoff.

UEFA also imposed fines totaling 173,000 euros ($181,000) with 90,000 euros ($94,000) of that for the discrimination.

Serbia’s soccer body has been charged by UEFA and FIFA for repeated fan misconduct including at Euro 2024 in Germany and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Serbia’s Aleksa Terzic passes the ball by Denmark’s Mads Roerslev during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Denmark at the Dubocica Stadium in Leskovac, Serbia, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

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