European football governing body UEFA on Thursday formally ratified plans to impose 10-game European suspensions on players and officials found guilty of racism.
Racist behaviour by supporters will initially be punished with a partial stadium closure, with a full stadium closure for a second offence.
The new measures were approved at the organisation’s executive committee meeting in London, but UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said individual member associations could still opt to introduce their own anti-racism sanctions, after England’s Football Association announced plans for minimum five-game bans.
In another announcement, UEFA revealed that the 2015 Champions League final will take place at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, with the Europa League final being hosted by Warsaw.
At Friday’s UEFA Congress, the organisation is also expected to announce that the winners of the Europa League will qualify automatically for the Champions League, in order to boost the appeal of the second-tier tournament.
