UEFA proceeds English FA over fans' pitch invasion

Donetsk, June 17 (IANS/RIA Novosti) UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the English Football Association (FA) over an attempt to invade the pitch after England's last game against Sweden.

Danny Welbeck's late winner provoked jubilation in the stands as England won 3-2 to keep them in with a good chance of reaching the quarterfinals after Friday's game.

"UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Football Association of England (FA) for the inappropriate behaviour of their supporters - attempted invasion of the field of play," UEFA said on its website Sunday.

The case will be heard Wednesday while England play Ukraine here Tuesday.

England becomes the sixth country to face UEFA charges during Euro 2012, while Croatia, Germany and Russia have each been charged twice.

Of the four cases that have been decided so far, all have been resolved with fines apart from one involving severe crowd disturbances by Russian fans, which reportedly left four Polish stewards requiring hospital treatment.

For that incident, which also covered the use of pyrotechnics, Russia received a suspended six-point penalty for Euro 2016 qualification and the Russian Football Union was fined Euro120,000.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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