SPORTS

UEFA pile misery on Russia

June 18, 2004 01:05 IST

Russia's woeful Euro 2004 campaign took another unfortunate twist on Thursday when they were charged for the improper conduct of one of their supporters during their 2-0 defeat by hosts Portugal.

The Russians were also charged by UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body for wearing warm-up tops with unauthorised manufacturer and sponsor logos.

The Russian fan was enraged by a red card for goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov shortly before halftime during Wednesday's match and he ran 50 metres across the pitch before police bundled him away from the tunnel area.

His one-man pitch invasion exposed embarrassing gaps in security at European soccer's showpiece event.

Both cases will be dealt with on Saturday.

Ovchinnikov's red card for deliberate handball outside the area means he will miss Russia's final group game against Greece on Sunday. Team mate Alexei Smertin is also suspended after his second yellow card of the tournament against Portugal.

Russia's defeat by the host nation means they have lost both their games and cannot reach the quarter-finals.

Spain's Carlos Marchena and Greece's Georgios Karagounis, two of the seven players cautioned during the 1-1 draw on Wednesday, will miss the final group games after collecting their second yellow cards of the tournament.

Source: REUTERS
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