FIFA Report -- Federations Fined for Fan Behavior; New Match Safety Measures

Police patrol the Polish fans during FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Northern Ireland and Poland at Windsor Park in Belfast, United Kingdom. (Getty Images)FIFA fined three football federations for disruptions during recent matches that included setting off fireworks, throwing objects and using lasers. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Poland and Greece were levied fines by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

The Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was fined $42,000 following the qualifying match between Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Genk, Belgium on March 29.

The citation says that between 45 and 50 fireworks were set off by the Bosnian supporters, with a large number landing on the pitch. The match had to be interrupted for eight minutes and the teams sent back to the changing rooms. A Bosnian supporter also invaded the pitch during the game.

On March 28, the Polish Football Association was fined $21,000 following Poland’s qualifying match away to Northern Ireland.

Polish supporters set off a number of fireworks at the beginning of the match, five of which were thrown onto the pitch. Later in the same match, police had to enter one of the Polish supporters´ areas of the stadium and had various objects thrown at them.

The decisions were taken by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which met in Zurich on May 7 and heard a number of cases relating to 2010 FIFA World Cup preliminary competition matches at the end of March and beginning of April.

The Hellenic Football Federation was also fined $21,000 after lasers were used and political banners displayed by Greek supporters at their home qualifying fixture against Israel on April 1.

New Safety Measures after Ivory Coast Stadium Tragedy

FIFA has put in place new safety measures that attempt to avoid tragedies such as the crowd crush in the Ivory Coast at the end of March which left 19 people dead.

FIFA´s Stadium and Security Committee met on April 21, unanimously supporting the proposal from the FIFA president that where there are confirmed cases of security issues, the kickoff of forthcoming matches should be delayed. Large crowds led to a stampede during the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Ivory Coast and Malawi leaving 19 people dead. (Getty Images)

The match commissioner and referees should therefore not start a match unless security is established outside the stadium and spectators have taken their seats.

These measures will be in place for the next round of 2010 FIFA World Cup preliminary competition fixtures on June 6.

Cameroon has agreed to play the Ivory Coast in a friendly on June 13 to raise money for families of those killed in the stadium disaster in Abidjan.

The match will be played at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium, where the crowd crush took place as fans tried to push their way into a World Cup qualifier between the Ivorians and Malawi.

FIFA has announced an extension of its investigation into the stadium disaster, the latest in a long line of similar ones in Africa.

South Africa Ready for Confederations Cup

A month out from the kickoff of the FIFA Confederations Cup, organizers say South Africa is ready to host the event.

“We approach the tournament with confidence,” said Danny Jordaan, the head of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee.

“Our stadiums are ready, our transport and security plans have been fine-tuned and more than 4,000 volunteers have been trained in preparation for the first major FIFA tournament on African soil.

“We know we still have much to do, but I can assure you we will not disappoint.” The newly constructed Football National Bank stadium will be one of the main venues for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. (Getty Images)

The FIFA Confederations Cup is seen as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup next year.

Jordaan says despite concerns over South Africa’s alarming crime rate, with an average of 50 murders a day, and a public transportation system that is still being built, the country was ready to host the event.

Derick Blanckensee of the FIFA competitions division says all four stadiums to be used for matches are ready, with some of the pitches still being prepared.

“Some for the stadiums need a little bit more work as there had been a lot of activities especially rugby matches,” he said, adding that experts were monitoring the pitches.

Organizers have also announced they have hired Grammy-winning artist Lebo M, best known for creating the music to Disney's "Lion King," to stage the opening and closing ceremonies.

Confederations Cup Nations Warned About Swine Flu

The seven visiting countries contesting the FIFA Confederations Cup have been advised by the 2010 World Cup Local Organizing Committee to adhere to the vaccination requirements relating to the H1N1 virus.

Dr. Victor Ramathesele, chief medical officer for 2010 Organizing Committee in South Africa, says the organization is satisfied with the level of medical preparedness.

“Through FIFA, we have communicated with participating teams to vaccinate themselves and hope they'll heed to our advice,” he said.

To date, there have been 7,520 cases of swine flu in 34 countries, with 60 deaths. These have been in Mexico, the United States, Canada and Costa Rica.

Spain, Britain, Panama, and Germany are among the 30 countries that have reported cases.

Written by Anthony Stavrinos

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