UEFA slaps Hibernians with heavy fines, bans after Riga FC controversy

Hibernians’ players Ferdinando Apap, Andrei Agius and Bjorn Kristensen together with coach Stefano Sanderra and club official Jesmond Abela were all handed heavy suspensions following the latest UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body meeting.

Last month, UEFA had decided to open an investigation over the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round, second leg tie between Hibernians and Riga FC that was played at the Centenary Stadium.

During that second leg tie, the Irish referee Hennessy awarded a very dubious penalty to Riga inside the first minute of the match and also annulled a Jurgen Degabriele goal midway through the second half for an inexistent offside position which would have sealed Hibernians passage to the next round.

These controversial decisions triggered a number of protests by the Hibernians players and officials which were all reported by the match official to the UEFA’s Disciplinary Body.

Agius and Kristensen were both slapped with a five-match ban for unsporting conduct with the former accused of assaulting the match official while the latter accused of insulting him, according to the UEFA report.

Coach Sanderra was also handed a suspension for five matches for unsporting conduct.

Apap, on his part, was handed a four-match suspension after spitting at the match official.

Meanwhile, club official Abela will be also suspended for the next five European games after insulting one of the match officials.

In addition, the Paolites were fined 13,500 euro for improper conduct of the team and crowd disturbances.