CSKA Sofia fined for fans' Nazi salutes at Europa League game

UEFA punished CSKA Sofia on Tuesday for fans' Nazi salutes and violent conduct at a Europa League game with a €50,000 ($57,000) fine and a ban on ticket sales.

The incidents delayed play for 15 minutes last Thursday when CSKA won 2-1 at Derry City in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.

UEFA's urgent disciplinary ruling prohibits the Bulgarian club selling tickets for one away game for "throwing of objects, acts of damage and crowd disturbances." CSKA play Thursday against Qarabag in Azerbaijan.

On the charge of "racist and/or discriminatory behavior" for the Nazi salutes, UEFA imposed a further one-game ban on ticket sales suspended for two years of probation.

Video clips on social media showed a CSKA fan making Nazi salutes when Derry fans raised a banner with an anti-fascist slogan.

CSKA fans advanced across a neutral area of the stadium to confront a line of security guards while Derry fans backed away. Some home fans including children got on the playing area to move toward a safer part of the stadium.

UEFA said a CSKA official was fined €5,000 ($5,700) for "violating the basic rules of decent conduct" and the club must pay Derry City for damage to the stadium.

The League of Ireland club were fined €20,000 ($22,800) for fan disorder including an "effective invasion of the field of play by its supporters."

Derry City lost 5-3 on aggregate score and dropped down to the third-tier Conference League qualifying rounds. They face Rijeka in Croatia on Thursday and host the second leg next week.