Football: Albania to appeal against sanctions, Serbs awarded game 3-0 but docked 3 pts

Serbia's defender Stefan Mitrovic grabs a flag with Albanian national symbols flown by a remotely operated drone during the UEFA Euro 2016 group I qualifying football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on Oct 14, 2014. Albania's footba
Serbia's defender Stefan Mitrovic grabs a flag with Albanian national symbols flown by a remotely operated drone during the UEFA Euro 2016 group I qualifying football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on Oct 14, 2014. Albania's football federation will appeal against Uefa's decision to award their aborted Euro 2016 qualification match to Serbia by a 3-0 scoreline. -- PHOTO: AFP

TIRANA/BERN (AFP, REUTERS) - Albania's football federation will appeal against Uefa's decision to award their aborted Euro 2016 qualification match to Serbia by a 3-0 scoreline.

But Serbia were then docked the three points and ordered to play their next two home games in Group I behind closed doors.

And both teams have been fined 100,000 euros (S$161,300) following the chaotic scenes at the Oct 14 match in Belgrade, the Serbian Football Association added.

The game, which had no away fans, had to be called off just before half-time with the score at 0-0, after home fans invaded the pitch and attacked Albania players when a drone carried a pro-Albanian flag over the stadium.

"The Uefa commission's decision does not give justice," blasted Albania coach Gianni de Biazi. "The three points belong to Albania and they've taken away from us what we've deserved."

European football's governing body Uefa, which imposed the sanctions after a hearing at its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, on Thursday, was not immediately available for comment.

During the game, Serbian player Stefan Mitrovic eventually grabbed the flag at the Partizan stadium, prompting an angry reaction from Albanian players.

A brawl between rival players broke out after several Albanian players snatched the flag from Mitrovic and then had to run for cover into the tunnel as the invading home fans attacked them while those on the terraces hurled flares.

Riot police moved in when around a dozen fans invaded the pitch and attacked the Albanian players, forcing them to retreat into the tunnel as flares were thrown from the terraces.

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