UEFA opens racism cases against Spain, Russia

WARSAW - Agence France-Presse

The June 14, 2012 file photo shows Italy's Mario Balotelli leaving the pitch after being substituted during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group C match between Italy and Croatia in Poznan, Poland. UEFA has charged the Croatian football federation with its fans' bad behavior. AP Photo

UEFA said today that it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Spain and Russia for racist behaviour and chanting by their fans during Euro 2012.
 
The first case against the Spanish Football Federation concerns La Roja's opening Group C game against Italy on June 10, after which it was claimed that a section of Spanish supporters racially abused striker Mario Balotelli.
 
The second case against the Russian Football Union relates to the country's first Group A game against the Czech Republic on June 8, following which it was claimed that defender Theodor Gebre Selassie was taunted with racial slurs.
 
European football's governing body said in a statement on its website that it would deal with both cases on Thursday.