Russia 2018: FIFA goes tough, fines Poland, investigates Argentina, Croatia

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee on Sunday in Moscow said it has sanctioned the Polish Football Association with a fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs and a warning.

The sanctions were imposed because of the display of a political and offensive banner by Polish fans during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group H match played between Poland and Senegal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match played at the Spartak Stadium on Tuesday had seen Senegal winning 2-1.

Also, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee disclosed that it has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Argentina FA and the Croatia FA.

This was because of several crowd disturbance incidents involving their respective fans during the Group D match played between Argentina and Croatia on June 21 at Nizhny Novgorod.

Croatia won the match 3-0.

Already, the Committee has opened disciplinary proceedings against Swiss players Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri for their goal celebration during their match against Serbia.

NAN reports that Switzerland won the Group E match played on June 22 in Kaliningrad 2-1.

In relation to the same match, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Serbian FA for crowd disturbance and the display of political and offensive messages by Serbian fans.

Furthermore, a preliminary investigation has been opened against the Serbian national team coach, Mladen Krstajic, for alleged statements made in the aftermath of the said match.

Meanwhile, FIFA has reminded teams of its disciplinary code and recalled the background information it gave earlier in March on disciplinary matters at the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup.

It said the information applied to cautions and expulsions imposed during the final competition of Russia 2018.

According to the information which has now been circulated to all the teams’ heads of delegations, single yellow cards received by players would be cancelled after the quarter-finals.

It also said a player would automatically be suspended from his team’s following match if he receives two cautions during two different matches,.

“If a player is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card, he will automatically be suspended from his team’s following match. In addition, further sanctions, such as additional suspensions and fines, et cetera, may be imposed,’’ a statement by FIFA said.

(NAN)