Club Statement on AIK Fine Submitted : 31st August 2014 at 2:30:00 PM Linfield Football Club have been fined Eu15,000.00 by UEFA for a breach of Stadium Infrastructure Regulations arising from the home leg of the Europe League tie against AIK Solna, played at Mourneview Park on 17th July 2014. This relates to Linfield supporters watching the game from a standing position behind the goal, an action specifically prohibited by UEFA. The punishment is currently under review by the Club’s legal advisors. It is with considerable frustration, however, that no sooner has the new season started, the Club’s Board of Directors are faced with another difficult disciplinary issue involving our own supporters and one which promises to have serious financial ramifications both for the Club at large and for the team budget during the season ahead. This is particularly annoying to the Club as extensive efforts were made on the day of the game to avoid this specific issue arising. See the statement on the Club website, here - linfieldfc/latestnews.asp?nid=12304. As well as this article, repeated announcements were made over the stadium PA system and those individuals standing behind the goal were also approached by Linfield FC stewards, the Club Secretary and Club Health and Safety Officer. When the problem was further highlighted to Linfield officials by the UEFA Match Delegate, a number of Linfield Directors also approached the supporters standing at the start of the second half of the game and were not just ignored, but were exposed to personal abuse for their trouble. Linfield appeal to all genuine supporters of the Club to attempt to work with us on this and other similar issues. Our supporters must realise that Linfield does not operate in a vacuum where we are not bound by the rules and regulations that all other clubs in European competition are subject to. Similarly, Linfield are also bound by the rules and regulations of local football and supporters will be only too aware of the difficulties we have faced over the last couple of seasons. It is particularly disappointing to the Board of Directors that several of the individuals who continued to stand behind the goal despite the advice and warning given have been identified as long-standing supporters of the Club and even include Club Members. Given the severity of the probable punishment in this case, however, Linfield must reserve the right to issue sanctions against any supporters identified as having been involved in any of the issues outlined above at Mourneview Park on 17th July 2014 or in any future incident which gives rise to financial sanctions against the Club. The Club has already commenced an internal investigation.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 16:44:57 +0000
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