NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Zenit St. Petersburg has been fined by UEFA but escaped a stadium ban after smoke from flares ignited by fans twice stopped a Champions League home match.
UEFA says the Russian club must pay €50,000 ($66,000) for several disciplinary offenses, but stopped short of ordering matches played in an empty Petrovsky Stadium.
Zenit is in the Champions League last-16 draw on Friday.
Zenit’s 0-0 draw with APOEL on Nov. 23 was stopped for three minutes in the first half until thick smoke cleared.
German referee Felix Brych also took players off the field during a seven-minute, second-half stoppage.
UEFA says it also punished Zenit because fans displayed "illicit banners" and invaded the field against APOEL, and during a 1-0 home win against Shakhtar Donetsk.
