Lyon’s first home Champions League group-stage game will be played behind closed doors as a result of crowd trouble against CSKA Moscow last season, UEFA has confirmed.
The governing body charged the French club under multiple counts, including throwing of objects, setting off of fireworks, crowd disturbances, racist behaviour and blocking stairways.
As a result, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has fined Lyon €100,000 and determined that the next European game they host must be played without fans in attendance.
A ban for another home fixture has been deferred for a two-year probationary period.
The club are being punished due to crowd disturbances which happeend in March, before the club played CSKA Moscow in the Europa Leaugue.
“Lyon has heard about the UEFA disciplinary commission’s decision and will appeal it when we discover exactly why,” the club stated today. Lyon lost 3-2 on the night and went out on away goals in a tense atmosphere. A group of 100 hooded black-clad fans pelted police ahead of the game and one man was sentenced to 18 months in jail and others receive suspended sentences.