Uefa charges Feyenoord with racist behaviour after Roma match

Feyenoord logoRotterdam football club officials have been told to attend a Uefa hearing on March 19 to answer complaints about fan behaviour during last week’s Europa League game against AS Roma.

The game was twice stopped in the second half after dozens of items were thrown on the pitch when the referee gave a red card to striker Mitchell te Vrede. The items included a blow-up banana and several fireworks.

Feyenoord has denied this had racist overtones. ‘There is such a fuss made about it. I don’t see it that way,’ coach Fred Rutten is quoted as saying by the Guardian. ‘We have different nationalities in our team. It’s nonsense. We make too much of it.’

The club has already been fined €80,000 this year for the behaviour of its fans. AS Roma beat Feyenoord 1-2 during the match after a first leg away draw.

Meanwhile, Rutten has confirmed earlier reports that he is leaving Feyenoord at the end of this season.

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