Arsenal Charges for Insufficient Organisation Dropped by UEFA

Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 21

Arsenal will face no punishment from UEFA after charges for "insufficient organisation" were dropped.

The matter relates to flares being thrown onto the pitch during the recent Champions League clash with Galatasaray, but Sky Sports reports:

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Arsenal will face no UEFA action following an incident during their Champions League game against Galatasaray on October 1.

[...] UEFA regards it as the home side's responsibility to search fans for any illegal items before they come into the stadium and Arsenal were initially charged with "insufficient organisation (lack of body searching)."

That charge has now been dropped, although Galatasaray have been fined £39,600 and ordered to pay damages to Arsenal, who won the game 4-1.

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Original Text

Arsenal are set to face charges of insufficient organisation after security at Emirates Stadium failed to prevent Galatasaray supporters from throwing objects onto the pitch during Wednesday's Champions League fixture.

Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail reports fans of the Turkish club threw both fireworks and flares onto the field during the 4-1 Gunners victory. He notes the Premier League club are likely to face the lesser of the UEFA charges:

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The Gunners will be charged because they were responsible for security and organisation at the stadium, and are likely to face a fine for 'insufficient organisation.'

Galatasaray have been charged with the conduct of their supporters, a more serious charge, which could result in the partial closure of their ground for future Champions League games.

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The biggest concern here is obviously player and fan safety. The match was stopped in the first half in an attempt to restore order, which included Fernando Muslera and Wesley Sneijder attempting to calm their own fans.

No timetable was set for a decision about whether Arsenal will face a fine or other punishment for the incident. The club has two more Champions League home matches left in group play as they will face Anderlecht and Borussia Dortmund in November.

You have to imagine new protocols will be in place before those fixtures, regardless of UEFA's judgment, to avoid a similar situation.