FA appeals Serbia bans against Steven Caulker and Tom Ince

Blackpool's Tom Ince (Getty Images)

The Football Association has confirmed its appeals against the Uefa suspensions handed out to Steven Caulker and Tom Ince after England Under-21's heated European Championship play-off second leg against Serbia.

Caulker, the Tottenham Hotspur defender, was handed a two-match suspension and Ince, the Blackpool winger, a one-match ban following clashes between players and coaching staff at the end of the match in Krusevac in October.

The FA general secretary, Alex Horne, claimed "the players acted correctly in the face of provocation".

In Italy, fourth-tier side Pro Patria have been ordered to play one home match behind closed doors after racist chants prompted Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng to walk off the pitch during a friendly last week.

Meanwhile, Fifa has ruled that Bulgaria and Hungary must both play their next home World Cup qualifiers behind closed doors after racism by fans. In an unusually strongly worded statement from world football's governing body as it battles a slew of racism issues, Fifa described the behaviour of Hungary fans at the August friendly against Israel in Budapest as "abhorrent".

Hungary were also ordered to pay a fine of £27,000. Bulgaria, who must pay a £24,000 fine, were sanctioned for the behaviour of their fans at the World Cup qualifier against Denmark in October.

Denmark complained that Bulgaria fans made racist chants when substitute Patrick Mtiliga came on during the 1-1 draw in Sofia.