NYON: PAOK Salonika must stage their next three European home games behind closed doors after losing an appeal after a riot at a Europa League tie writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The Greek club will also have to pay a E150,000 fine and suffer automatic expulsion from European competition if there is a repeat incident within the next three years.

Trouble broke out before the start of PAOK’s Europa League qualifying tie at home to Austrian side Rapid Vienna on August 23. The Austrian club said that Molotov cocktails were among the weapons used to attack their fans as they arrived at the Toumba stadium for the match.

Video showed fans hurling a variety of firecrackers and other missiles at each other, and at one point dozens of masked fans ran onto the pitch.

Rapid said  some of their supporters were also attacked in the city centre before the game.

A UEFA statement said: “PAOK were charged with the improper conduct of supporters – crowd disturbances, pitch invasion, setting off and throwing of missiles and fireworks – and insufficient organisation.”

Rapid themselves have been ordered to play one European match behind closed doors and been fined E75,000.

PAOK won the match 2-1 but lost the second leg 3-0. The punishment will be applied next time they qualify for European competition.

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