UEFA To Appeal Serbia-England Sanctions Although Widely Viewed As 'Too Lenient'

UEFA "has decided to appeal against sanctions imposed by its own disciplinary body on Serbia and England's U21 players," according to the BBC. England's Steven Caulker and Thomas Ince, as well as four players and two coaches from Serbia, were banned, "after a brawl at the game" in Krusevac, Serbia in October. UEFA also ordered Serbia to play its next competitive U21 match "behind closed doors," and fined them £65,000 ($105,000). The sanctions "have been widely viewed as being too lenient" (BBC, 12/26). UEFA said in a statement: "Having reviewed the motivated decisions for the sanctions imposed in this specific case, which have also been provided to all parties, the UEFA disciplinary inspector felt it necessary to immediately confirm his intention to appeal on UEFA's behalf" (UEFA).