Hibernian's Josh Mulligan, left, duels for the ball with Partizan's Milan Vukotic during a UEFA Conference League third qualifying round, first leg soccer match between Partizan and Hibernian, at the Partizan stadium, in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Serbian soccer club Partizan punished by UEFA for fans’ Kosovo banner and offensive chants

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA fined Partizan Belgrade more than $100,000 on Wednesday and ordered part of the Serbian club’s stadium closed at one European game for fans’ racist and political statements.

Fans displayed a “Kosovo is Serbia” banner and chanted discriminatory and offensive slogans at two home games in Conference League qualifying rounds.

The order to close a 10,000-seat section of Partizan’s stadium will apply at the team’s next home game in a European competition. Partizan faces possible elimination on Thursday in Edinburgh, trailing 2-0 from the first leg against Hibernian in the Conference League third qualifying round.

UEFA said its disciplinary panel fined Partizan a total of 90,250 euros ($105,500) for incidents at home games in recent weeks against Hibernian and Olexandriya of Ukraine.

The charges included “racist and/or discriminatory behavior,” displaying an illicit banner and throwing objects, UEFA said.

Serbia has never recognized the declaration of independence in 2008 by Kosovo, the neighboring former province which has been a member of UEFA and world soccer body FIFA since 2016.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Partizan fans cheer during the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round, first leg soccer match between Partizan and Hibernian, at the Partizan stadium, in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

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