UEFA has fined the Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FSBiH) 30,000 euros for incidents in the stands during the Nations League match against Sweden on October 2 in Zenica. That match was a farewell for legendary captain Edin Džeko.
The 30,000 euro fine is composed of three parts. The first part, 12,000 euros, is for the use of pyrotechnics. The second, 8,000 euros, is for blocking passageways on the stairways. The third, 10,000 euros, is for displaying messages deemed inappropriate for a sporting event.
This is the second major fine for the FSBiH in a short period. UEFA previously fined the Federation 40,500 euros for lapses during the fourth-round Nations League match against Poland.
UEFA also issued a suspended sanction to the Federation. "The FSBiH also received a suspended sanction involving the partial closure of the stadium, which entails closing off five percent of the venue’s capacity for the national team’s next home match in a UEFA competition," UEFA said. This measure carries a two-year probationary period and will be activated if similar incidents recur within that timeframe.
These fines arrive as the national team is trying to stabilise its performances. After the draw with Sweden, the team beat Poland 1-0 on October 5 thanks to an 84th-minute penalty from Ivan Bašić. The team's last four results read LDWD, meaning one loss, two draws, and one win.
The financial burden of over 70,000 euros in fines in recent months presents an additional challenge for the Federation. The context is significant as the match against Sweden in Zenica, where Kerim Alajbegović scored for the 1-1 final score, was meant to be a celebratory send-off for Džeko but is now also remembered for these disciplinary issues. The national team must now ensure similar incidents do not recur to avoid triggering the suspended stadium sanction.
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