Maccabi Tel Aviv punished: Will host CSKA Sofia behind closed doors

UEFA announced this evening (Monday) that it has decided to fine Maccabi Tel Aviv 40,000 euros and order the club to play its next home match in Europe behind closed doors, due to the use of pyrotechnic devices in the previous match against Sheriff Tiraspol. This means the upcoming match against CSKA Sofia in the Europa League qualifiers on Thursday (19:00, Sport 1) will be held without spectators.

As recalled, on Friday, a day after the 1:0 victory over Sheriff Tiraspol in the "home" return leg in Batumi, Georgia, Maccabi Tel Aviv informed its fans that it was suspending ticket sales following a disciplinary procedure opened by UEFA. Flares and other pyrotechnic devices were lit in the stands, and the incident was noted in the observer's report submitted to UEFA.

In response to the decision, Maccabi Tel Aviv announced:

"As a result of the UEFA decision, the home match against CSKA Sofia in the third qualifying round of the Europa League will be held on Thursday without an audience. The club will act in accordance with this decision. We call on all fans to respect the rules that apply to all clubs playing in Europe and to understand the consequences of violating them. Failure to comply with the rules may prevent fans from attending matches, deprive the club of the significant advantage of fan support in these games, and lead to heavy fines that will significantly harm the club's ability to support fan activities in the future."

If Maccabi Tel Aviv advances past the Bulgarian club, it will meet OFI Crete (Greece) in the Europa League playoff round. If eliminated by CSKA Sofia, it will drop to the Conference League playoff round, where a matchup awaits against the winner of the tie between Lugano (Switzerland) and Runavik (Faroe Islands).