UEFA rejects appeals, Serbia still down 3 points

NYON - The UEFA appeals committee has rejected the appeals to the penalties given out regarding the incidents that occurred at a cancelled match between Serbia and Albania.

It means Serbia will remain 3 points short in the fight to qualify for the next European championship. The points were taken away in the original decision by the UEFA disciplinary committee.

The appeals committee did not change that decision at its meetingg on Tuesday and kept the penalties against the Serbian and Albanian football associations caused by the match in Belgrade on October 14.

The UEFA recorded the result as 3-0 in Serbia's favour, but simultaneously punished Serbia by taking away 3 points.

It also said that Serbia would have to play two matches without no audience at the stands. Both associations were also ordered to pay a EUR 100,000 fine each.

The appeals committee heard testimonies by everyone involved, the head referee Martin Atkinson, match delegate Harry Bean, UEFA security expert Kenny Scot and Serbian Football Association commissioner Milivoje Mirkov.

Both associations can now appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

The match was interrupted just before the end of the first half, at the score of 0-0, when a drone appeared above the field carrying a flag depicting the so called Greater Albania, which then escalated into further incidents.

Serbia has one point in its qualifier group for the 2016 European Championship in France. It is at the bottom of the rankings together with Armenia. Denmark is at the lead with 7 points, followed by Portugal with 6 and Albania with 4.

Serbia's next match is against Portugal in Lisabon on March 29 next year.