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Feyenoord charged by UEFA following inflatable banana incident

UEFA flag in Geneva
Image: UEFA flag in Geneva

UEFA has charged Feyenoord with racist behaviour after their fans threw an inflatable banana on the pitch during their Europa League last-32 match against Roma last Thursday.

The inflatable banana was hurled in the direction of Roma striker Gervinho in the 37th minute of the second-leg match and the referee temporarily suspended the game.

The referee then led the players off the pitch again in the 55th minute after the home fans threw more objects onto the pitch, shortly after Feyenoord had Mitchell Te Vrede sent off with Roma leading 1-0.

The teams returned 10 minutes later and Elvis Manu quickly equalised for the Dutch side before Gervinho netted three minutes later to earn Roma a 3-2 aggregate success.

Roma winger Adem Ljajic has also been charged with "provoking spectators" as he celebrated scoring the opening goal on the stroke of half-time.                 

Dozens of fans were also detained in Rotterdam ahead of the match following trouble in Rome when Feyenoord supporters went on the rampage before the first leg.

Feyenoord face a hearing on March 19 to answer sanctions over fans' racist behaviour, throwing fireworks and objects, plus the club's "insufficient organisation" which included blocked stairways in the stadium.

UEFA's disciplinary panel meets on Wednesday to hear the case against Ljajic and Roma after they were charged with kicking off late.

Roma play Italian rivals Fiorentina in the last-16 round.

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