Baník Ostrava fined and given conditional two game fan ban for match violence

Czech football club Baník Ostrava will be fined 300,000 crowns and its stadium will be closed conditionally to fans for two games as punishment for the outbreak of violence on Saturday, the Czech Football Association has ruled. Violence broke out between Ostrava and Sparta Prague fans with the 15 minute half time interval extended to around 35 minutes before police restored order. Sparta Prague was also fined 50,000 crowns. The Ostrava club, which is struggling financially as well as results wise on the pitch, will not be able to appeal the ruling. The punishment was described as milder than it might have been by authorities. The ban on fans will take effect if there are futher problems.