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Your support makes all the difference.Patrick Vieira, the Arsenal midfielder, was fined by Uefa yesterday for criticising Europe's governing body for not being tough enough on racism.
The Gunners captain made his remarks following his side's Champions' League match against Valencia, when Arsenal were knocked out. Vieira must pay a fine of £2,300, while Valencia were fined £9,250 for the racist abuse of players by their supporters during the match.
Uefa's control and disciplinary body also fined Internazionale following crowd disturbances during their drawn Champions' League game against Newcastle in March. The Serie A side have been ordered to pay £32,350 after missiles were thrown onto the pitch and into the section of Newcastle fans during the second group stage tie at the San Siro stadium.
The Football Association of Wales was fined 50,000 Swiss francs (£23,000) for withdrawing their team from the Uefa European Women's Championship 2003-2005 after the draw had been made.
Christophe Dugarry has escaped a ban following the spitting incident which blighted Birmingham's derby win over Aston Villa. The Frenchman was fined £12,500 and warned about his future conduct at a Football Association disciplinary meeting at West Bromwich Albion's Hawthorns ground. Video replays captured Dugarry spitting after a tangle with Villa's Joey Gudjonsson during the 3 March match.
An FA spokesman stated: "Christophe Dugarry was found guilty of Improper Conduct (FA Rule E1). While finding him guilty, the commission accepted he was not spitting directly at an opponent. They took this into account when fining him £12,500 and warning him as to his future conduct."
Neither Dugarry nor his manager, Steve Bruce, would comment after the hearing, but Bruce was evidently delighted his influential signing does not face a spell on the sidelines.
The Professional Footballers' Association chief executive, Mick McGuire, who represented Dugarry, praised the FA's handling of the affair. McGuire admitted that the FA's agreement to downgrade the original charge of indecent behaviour, which carries a potential for virtually limitless punishment, to one of improper conduct had been crucial to the outcome.
"The commission are always under a bit of pressure to make a knee-jerk reaction when it comes to spitting, but they looked at it objectively and put it in context," McGuire said. "I was confident that Christophe did not spit at the player at all. It was a gesture of frustration following a challenge between the two players. It is something which is probably accepted far more abroad than it is here."
The fall-out from the game is not yet complete, as Villa's striker Dion Dublin is also due to face a disciplinary hearing following his dismissal for head-butting Robbie Savage. Dublin's case was due to be heard yesterday, but was postponed to an unspecified date.
Dublin served a three-match ban and paid a club fine following the incident, and later issued a public apology.
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