UEFA Probes Maccabi's Champions League Match In Malta After 'Palestine' Chant

Flags with UEFA logo are seen outside of the Union of European Football Associations headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, October 5, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
Flags with UEFA logo are seen outside of the Union of European Football Associations headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, October 5, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
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UEFA Probes Maccabi's Champions League Match In Malta After 'Palestine' Chant

Flags with UEFA logo are seen outside of the Union of European Football Associations headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, October 5, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
Flags with UEFA logo are seen outside of the Union of European Football Associations headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, October 5, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

UEFA on Wednesday opened disciplinary proceedings after Israeli side Maccabi Haifa's Champions League qualifier against Hamrun Spartans in Malta was disrupted following chants of "Palestine, Palestine" by local fans.

On Tuesday night, with the visitors two goals up, tensions rose as Maccabi fans launched flares onto the pitch in the Centenary Stadium in Ta' Qali in Malta in response to the Maltese supporters' chants.

The game had to be stopped for 30 minutes, according to AFP.

UEFA, the governing body of European football charged both clubs over "throwing of objects" and "crowd disturbance" by their fans. Maccabi faced additional charges over "lighting of fireworks" and "acts of damage".

Five Israeli supporters were arrested, according to The Times of Israel.

Malta Today reported that two pleaded guilty on Wednesday in a local magistrates court.

It said police had told the court the two men had been arrested after throwing flares and that when they were searched, three more flares were found.

The two men were sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for three years and each fined 300 euros ($334).

Earlier, police said that fans searched at the entry to the stadium were found to be smuggling flares in their underwear.

Maccabi won the match 4-0. The second leg is scheduled for July 18 in Israel.

Israeli forces this month launched the biggest raid in the West Bank for years. Twelve Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed in the two-day military operation.



Ronaldo and Al-Nassr Chase Asian Glory as Saudi Clubs Dominate

Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Wehda v Al-Nassr - King Abdulaziz Stadium, Makkah, Saudi Arabia - February 25, 2025 Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts. (Reuters)
Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Wehda v Al-Nassr - King Abdulaziz Stadium, Makkah, Saudi Arabia - February 25, 2025 Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts. (Reuters)
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Ronaldo and Al-Nassr Chase Asian Glory as Saudi Clubs Dominate

Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Wehda v Al-Nassr - King Abdulaziz Stadium, Makkah, Saudi Arabia - February 25, 2025 Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts. (Reuters)
Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Wehda v Al-Nassr - King Abdulaziz Stadium, Makkah, Saudi Arabia - February 25, 2025 Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts. (Reuters)

Cristiano Ronaldo can take a major step towards the Asian Champions League elite title in Iran on Monday, though Al-Nassr is not the only Saudi Arabian club in contention for the big prize.

Ronaldo has yet to win a major trophy since signing for the Riyadh club in December 2022 and victory over Esteghlal of Tehran in the two-legged Round of 16 tie would mean a place in the last eight for Al-Nassr.

The 40-year-old has won five UEFA Champions Leagues while Al-Nassr has yet to win one in Asia.

Domestically Al-Nassr is off the pace and its latest setback — a 2-1 defeat at Al-Orubah on Friday — saw it slip into fourth in the Saudi Pro League and increase the pressure on coach Stefano Pioli.

“We had many chances but could not score,” said Pioli. “We have a lot of games in a short period of time and only had two days rest before this game and now we have to get ready for another one in the Asian Champions League.”

Ronaldo has been in good form in Asia scoring six goals in the group stage, helping Al-Nassr finish third in a 12-team group behind two other Saudi Arabian clubs.

Al-Hilal seeking fifth ACL title

Nassr’s Riyadh rival Al-Hilal won the group stage and continues its quest for a record fifth continental title against Pakhatkor of Uzbekistan.

With talent such as Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves of Portugal as well as Brazilian stars Marcos Leonardo, Kaio Cesar and Malcom, Hilal is the strong favorite to beat the Central Asian team who won only one of eight games in the group stage.

Al-Ahli finished second in the group and meets Qatar’s Al-Rayyan. Former English Premier League star Ivan Toney in fine form as he scored a hat trick on Friday as Al-Ahli won 3-2 at Al-Hilal.

Elsewhere, two-time champion Al-Sadd of Qatar faces Al-Wasl from the United Arab Emirates.

Japanese clubs rising in the east

None of the eight teams in the eastern zone, the tournament is divided into two geographic zones until the quarterfinal stage, have won the tournament before.

The three Japanese teams strolled through the group stage however. Yokohama F. Marinos will meet former coach Kevin Muscat, now in charge of Shanghai Port. Kawasaki Frontale travels to Shanghai Shenhua and Vissel Kobe hosts Gwangju FC, South Korea’s sole representative. The remaining tie is a Southeast Asian affair as Buriram United of Thailand meets Malaysia’s Johor Darul Tazim.

The final will be held in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah on May 4.