Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
UEFA outline tough new sanctions to combat racism
UEFA is proposing tough sanctions to tackle racism in football, including a minimum 10-match ban for players or officials found guilty of abuse.
UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino outlined the plans at the SoccerEx conference in Manchester.
The announcement comes hours after it was revealed that police are set to investigate claims that Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany was racially abused after his side's 2-1 win over Manchester United on Monday.
Defiant Infantino said if there is racism in the stands at matches the first sanction for clubs will be a partial stadium closure - and not just a fine.
But if there is further racism, Infantino said there will be a "full closure of the stadium and a minimum fine of €50,000 (£42,000)".
The debate on racism intensified this season after AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng led his team off a field during a friendly in Italy after facing abuse.
The proposed sanctions would affect all matches in European competition.
Belgian defender Kompany was conducting an interview with Sky Sports at the time he was allegedly abused and presenter Ed Chamberlain waded in to apologise for the bad language.
City officials are understood to have watched the footage but do not believe the abuse was racially motivated.