Ex-Premier League referee demands total overhaul as Man City punishment confirmed
Uefa need to overhaul the punishment system after Sevilla were fined just €5,000 for the racist behaviour of their fans during a Champions League game with Man City last month (2 November).
That is the view of former Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about a “punishment that does not fit the crime”.
The Manchester Evening News reported earlier this week (8 November) Sevilla had been fined and a partial stadium closure of 1,000 seats that is suspended for two years.
Two Sevilla fans were arrested after their 3-1 loss at the Etihad for racially abusing Rico Lewis and the club have also banned them.
Uefa also dished out fines between €20,000-€40,000 to four clubs for throwing flares.
“It’s just like the Football Association, they have a regulatory panel that reviews, in detail, each individual incident but that panel changes,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“They’ve got a set of criteria in front of them, a list of punishments, like a judge in the court of law. They’ve got to determine what punishment suits the crime.
“This, to some degree, is what Uefa do.
“Like the FA, Uefa could actually look at it and say ‘We don’t think this is enough’.
“On the face of it, €5,000 is nothing for a Champions League club. I don’t think this punishment fits the crime.
“I have the view that the bar of punishments for this type of offence should be six figures to start with. Whatever team is involved, let’s start off at a minimum of €100,000 if found guilty. Then whatever you want to add to it.
“The punishment has actually undermined Uefa and what they normally do.”
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