Swiss authorities punish Basel
Monday, January 13, 2003
Article summary
FC Basel will play their next home league game behind closed doors as punishment for crowd trouble.
Article body
Swiss champions FC Basel will play their next home league fixture behind closed doors following crowd trouble at their Saint Jakob Park stadium, the Nationalliga said on Monday.
Fined for disturbances
The Nationalliga's disciplinary commission imposed the punishment following trouble during the club's 1-1 draw with Grasshopper-Club on 1 December. Basel were also fined €10,270 for the disturbances that saw both assistant referees as well as Grasshoppers goalkeeper Fabrice Borer and defender Roland Schwegler hit with missiles. The game was twice stopped by Swiss referee Urs Meier.
Club disappointed
Basel's next home game in the Nationalliga is not yet known, with fixtures for the final round after the winter break yet to be decided. The club said that they were disappointed with the decision and would discuss the outcome at their next board meeting.
'Harsh' sanction
"We are of the view that the imposed sanction of playing the next home game without spectators is harsh," read a statement released by the club. "We will discuss the consequences of the decision at the next board meeting."
