UEFA fine the FA £26,000 after fan shines laser in Kasper Schmeichel’s face during England win

UEFA fine England £26,000 after crowd trouble during semi-final win over Denmark, when a fan shone a laser in Kasper Schmeichel’s face before crucial penalty, the Danish national anthem was booed and fireworks were set off at Wembley


UEFA have fined the FA £26,000 after a fan shone a laser pen in Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel‘s face during England’s Euro 2020 semi-final win at Wembley.

The incident occurred before Harry Kane saw his penalty saved by the Leicester City keeper, only for the England captain to tuck home the winning in the first half of extra time in their 2-1 victory against the Danes. 

The fine also relates to Three Lions supporters booing during Denmark’s national anthem and setting off fireworks inside the stadium during Wednesday night’s match which was attended by more than 60,000 fans.

UEFA have fined the FA £26,000 after a fan shone a laser pen in Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel ‘s face

The incident occurred before Harry Kane saw his penalty saved by the Leicester City keeper

The incident occurred before Harry Kane saw his penalty saved by the Leicester City keeper

The FA was charged with the three offences after the Three Lions’ win, but sanctions have now followed from UEFA’s control ethics and disciplinary body.

A statement from UEFA read: ‘The CEDB has decided to fine the English Football Association 30,000 euros for the use of laser pointer, disturbances during the national anthems and setting of fireworks.’ 

England have been fined £4,300 before for supporters disrupting another side’s national anthem. Three Lions fans have also controversially booed the taking of the knee at times throughout the current competition, which ends when they face Italy in the final on Sunday.

But the most serious incident involves the laser pen, which saw a green beam flickered across Schmeichel’s head as England captain Kane was lining up to take his spot kick won by Raheem Sterling.

The England captain however tucked home the rebound in the first half of extra time

The England captain however tucked home the rebound in the first half of extra time

The fine also relates to Three Lions supporters booing during Denmark's national anthem and setting off fireworks

The fine also relates to Three Lions supporters booing during Denmark’s national anthem and setting off fireworks

Wembley security will therefore be stepped up for the final, with the number of on-duty stewards to be increased to crack down on prohibited items as well as fans trying to enter without a ticket.

Schmeichel revealed he told the referee about the laser before the penalty: ‘I did not experience it on the penalty kick because it was behind me on my right side. But I did experience it in the second half.

‘I told the referee. And he went to say something to the other officials.’ Former England striker Stan Collymore has led calls for the fan responsible to be banned for life. 

Ex-England striker Gary Lineker has also urged Three Lions fans attending Sunday’s final not to boo the Italian national anthem, describing such behaviour as  ‘rude, disrespectful and utterly classless’.

The fine however appears to show UEFA stepping up punishments after years of weak disciplinary measures.

The news also comes after UEFA ordered Hungary to play their next two European qualifiers behind closed doors following homophobic and racist behaviour by supporters at all three of the their Euro 2020 group games. 

Hungary fans were seen in black shirts marching against players taking the knee, while other supporters waved homophobic banners at the Puskas Arena during the early weeks of the tournament.

UEFA branded their behaviour ‘discriminatory’, and under the terms of the punishment, Hungary will play two games behind closed doors with a third match suspended for two years, which is dependent on how crowds behave when they return.  

FULL UEFA STATEMENT

The UEFA Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has announced the following decision:

Match: UEFA EURO 2020 semi-final match between England and Denmark (2-1), played on 7 July at Wembley Stadium, London

Charges against the English Football Association:

• Use of laser pointer by its supporters – Article 16(2)(d) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR)

• Disturbance caused by its supporters during the national anthems – Article 16(2)(g) DR

• Lighting of fireworks by its supporters – Article 16(2)(c) DR

Decision:

The CEDB has decided to fine the English Football Association €30,000 for the use of laser pointer, disturbances during the national anthems and setting of fireworks.