The UEFA has slapped Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester United with hefty fines on Tuesday for the behaviour of some of the supporters during their Europa League last 16 matches this season. While United have been fined £44,342, Liverpool have been slapped with a £43,577 penalty, the BBC said.
Liverpool had progressed to the last eight of the competition after getting past Manchester United over two legs of the Europa League match in March, with a 3-1 aggregate score. While a Liverpool-Manchester United showdown is always as heated as it gets, some section of the crowd -- in both Anfield and at Old Trafford -- resorted to unruly means during the games.
Liverpool have been charged for setting off fireworks in the stadium, throwing seats and also wasting time, resulting to a late kick-off. United, meanwhile, have been charged for blocking the stairways at their stadium.
The Reds have also been asked to pay for damages caused to the Old Trafford during their match. "[Liverpool has been asked] to contact Manchester United FC within 30 days for the settlement of the damages caused by its supporters," Associated Press quoted a UEFA statement as saying.
The Red Devils fans dished out offencive chants towards the Liverpool fans in memory of the Hillsborough disaster of 1989. The Reds fans, too, kept chanting about the Munich air tragedy of 1958. Prior to the first leg match as well, the police had to remove an offencive banner in Salford put up by the United fans, targeting the Liverpool fans headed to Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Liverpool could also be in for further UEFA sanctions in July after it was reported that a fight ensued between the Sevilla fans and the Reds fans during the Europa League 2015-16 final in Basel last week.
