Legia will miss out on a season of European football (©Getty Images )
Legia punished with UEFA ban
e-mail Print
Legia Warszawa have been expelled from the 2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup and banned from UEFA competition for one future season following weekend crowd trouble.
'Ugly and shocking'
The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body met today to discuss disturbances involving Polish supporters at last Sunday's second round first-leg match at Lithuanian club FK Vėtra in Vilnius. With the half-time score at 2-0 in the home team's favour, Legia fans fired "a considerable number" of missiles on to the pitch and, as well as causing damage to the stadium infrastructure, engaged in "ugly and shocking" scenes with police. This continued for 30 minutes and led UEFA match officials to abandon the contest.
Default victory
As well as their expulsion from this European season and one future campaign should they qualify within the next five years, Legia have been ordered to contact Vėtra within ten days with regard to compensation for the damage caused. The match, played on 8 July, has been awarded as a 3-0 win to Vėtra by default. The Lithuanian club will progress automatically to the third round, where they will take on English side Blackburn Rovers FC.
'Obvious problem'
Although Legia said they had done much to curb hooliganism in the past three years, the body identified an "obvious problem with Legia supporters at away matches on the continent". In reaching its decision, it added: "Legia must react quickly and firmly if the club wishes to participate in UEFA competition in future. With Legia's considerable disciplinary record for away matches, the duty of playing matches against Legia becomes a tall order that UEFA cannot afford to support any longer." Legia have until Saturday if they wish to lodge an appeal against the decision.
©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.
Legia Warszawa have been kicked out of the 2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup and have received a one year ban in a future season. 

UEFA referee Mario Vlk of Slovakia abandoned the match at half time after hundreds of fans of Legia went onto the field and tried to pull down the goalposts and destroy advertising boardings. The fans clashed with police and threw trash onto the field. Lithuanian police used tear gas to stop the violence and made about 100 arrests.

Due to the fact that Legia has been expelled, FK Vetra automatically will face Blackburn Rovers in the third and final round. The match was awarded to FK Vetra 3-0. The 2nd Leg of the tie was cancelled.

UEFA made a statement in regards to Legia's most recent hooligan problem. "Although Legia said they had done much to curb hooliganism in the past three years, the body identified an "obvious problem with Legia supporters at away matches on the continent". In reaching its decision, it added: "Legia must react quickly and firmly if the club wishes to participate in UEFA competition in future. With Legia's considerable disciplinary record for away matches, the duty of playing matches against Legia becomes a tall order that UEFA cannot afford to support any longer." 

Legia have until Saturday if they wish to appeal the ban.