Georgia to play behind closed doors

Georgia must play their next UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying match behind closed doors after a knife was thrown on to the pitch and struck an opposition player during their last qualifier in Tbilisi.

Crowd disturbances
UEFA imposed the penalty on the Georgian Football Federation after examining crowd disturbances at the Group 10 match against the Republic of Ireland on 29 March. Missiles were thrown from the crowd and Ireland's Kevin Kilbane was struck by a pen-knife. The sanction will apply to Georgia's qualifier against Russia on 30 April, although the GFF has until midnight on Friday to appeal against punishment.

Albelda and Emre suspended
UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body also handed suspensions to Valencia CF's David Albelda and Internazionale FC's Emre Belözoglu after the pair were dismissed during last week's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg meeting in Milan. Emre responded angrily to a fierce challenge from his Spanish opponent and knocked him to the ground.

Unsporting conduct
Albelda has received a two-match ban for particularly unsporting conduct and Emre a one-match ban for particularly unsporting conduct in retaliation. In Albelda's case he has until Friday to appeal against the decision.

Mourinho's touchline ban
FC Porto coach José Mourinho, meanwhile, must serve a one-match touchline ban and received a €2,000 fine after he was sent off during his side's UEFA Cup semi-final first leg against S.S. Lazio. Mourinho was judged to have obstructed a Lazio player as he tried to take a throw-in by pulling his shirt. Like Emre, he has no right of appeal according to the disciplinary regulations as his is only a one-match ban.