Derry City given suspended partial stadium closure by Uefa

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reports that Uefa has handed Derry City a suspended partial closure of Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium following crowd trouble around the club’s Europa League match against CSKA Sofia on 16 July. The sanction will not take immediate effect but will remain in place for a two-year probationary period.

The disciplinary action relates to disorder involving rival supporters before and during the fixture, which Derry City lost 2-1 as they exited the competition. According to the BBC report, police were deployed at the stadium and play was stopped for 14 minutes after supporters, including children, moved onto the pitch to avoid confrontations in the stands.

Derry City have also been fined €20,000, about £17,000. CSKA Sofia have received a ban on taking away fans to their next European match, with an additional one-game ban suspended for two years. The Bulgarian club were also fined a total of €55,000, about £47,000, and instructed to settle with Derry City over stadium damage.

In a club statement cited by the BBC, Derry City said it had complained to Uefa about the conduct of visiting fans while accepting its own punishment. The club said it is investigating home supporters involved in the incidents and may impose sanctions, including possible lifetime bans from the stadium. Derry are due to continue their European campaign on Thursday night away to HNK Rijeka in the Conference League second qualifying round.