NYON: UEFA, European football’s governing body, has sanctioned seven of the 24 competing countries at the Euro 2024 finals because of racist or discriminatory behaviour by their fans.

The seven are Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary and Albania.

The punishments range from Croatia’s €50,000 fine and a ban from selling tickets to their next UEFA away match – a Nations League tie in Portugal on September5 – to a €20,000 fine and a ban on selling tickets to their next UEFA away match – suspended for two years – for Austria.

In total, 17 games were identified as being affected, including three involving Slovenia, Romania, Croatia and Serbia.

The move came a day after UEFA charged Spain players Rodri and Alvaro Morata for violating “basic rules of conduct” in the aftermath of their final victory over England when they sang offensive songs about Gibraltar, whose FA lodged a formal complaint.

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