FIFA Fines Serbia for Fans' World Cup Antics

Football's global governing body fined Serbia's Football Federation around 8,500 euros because Serbian fans behaved offensively during Sunday's match with Costa Rica, which Serbia won 1-0.

FIFA announced its decision on Wednesday evening. Serbia's Football Federation did not comment on the penalty by the time of publication.

Blic daily reported that the fine was imposed because Serbian fans "behaved inappropriately and displayed political messages" during the match with Costa Rica on June 17 .

FIFA said Serbian fans had held up an "offensive and political" World War II-era banner at the match.

Reports added that the Disciplinary Committee of FIFA analysed all the specific circumstances of the case, and had included a report from anti-discrimination match observers that FIFA deployed for the first time at the World Cup.

Mexico was ordered to pay a similar fine because its fans insulted Germany's goalkeeper and chanted homophobic messages during Sunday's match with Germany, which Mexico won 1-0.