UEFA boss Ceferin vows to take games from teams banning away fans

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UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin on Tuesday threatened to take games away from clubs when away fans are banned, after Naples shut out all Frankfurt residents ahead of Wednesday’s last 16 tie.

The Champions League clash between Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt will have no official away section as a consequence of the shutout.

The UEFA President said the ban could set a dangerous precedent in European competitions.

“This situation is intolerable and we urgently need to do something about it, because the decision is absolutely wrong” Ceferin told German TV on Tuesday.

“We have to say ‘if something like this happens, then the clubs won’t play there’.

“It’s simple, we’ll change the rules.”

The Italian Interior Ministry initially banned all supporters from Germany from attending due to violence surrounding the first leg in Frankfurt.

The ministry imposed the ban after violence in the first leg in Frankfurt when nine people were taken into custody.

The ban was overturned on Saturday after an appeal from the German club, but on Sunday the prefecture of Naples banned all Frankfurt residents.

Eintracht’s attempt to challenge the ban was rejected and the German club decided to waive the 2,700 guest tickets to which they were entitled under UEFA rules.

Ceferin said it was not acceptable “for the Italian authorities to just decide that the German fans aren’t allowed”.

Ceferin revealed UEFA “supports and has joined a lawsuit launched by Eintracht Frankfurt” about the ban.

Napoli hold a 2-0 advantage after the first leg in Germany.

The Italian club, 18 points clear in Serie A, have never qualified for the Champions League last eight.

© Agence France-Presse

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Tawanda Mutuma