FSCG initiated proceedings against Petrovac, stadium suspended: Here's how the club can be punished

FSCG Disciplinary Commission initiated disciplinary proceedings against Petrovac and banned the club from playing matches at home until a final decision is made, FSCG announced.

The proceedings against Petrovac were initiated after the application of the Competition Commission.

"According to Article 134 of the FSCG Disciplinary Rulebook, disciplinary proceedings are initiated against FK Petrovac due to poor organization and disorder, and for insulting players and officials of FK Jezero on the basis of national, religious and ethnic affiliation by fans of FK Petrovac... which would commit an offense from Article 74 paragraph 1 and a misdemeanor from Article 97 paragraph 2 in connection with paragraph 1 of the FSCG Disciplinary Rulebook," the announcement states.

"The stadium of FK Petrovac is suspended and the playing of championship matches at the stadium "Mitar Mićo Goliš" in Petrovac is prohibited until the final decision of the FSCG Disciplinary Commission is made," according to the announcement on the FSCG website.

Videos are circulating on social media where someone can be heard shouting from the stands of the stadium in Petrovac towards the players of Jezer and saying:

"Uh, Turks, you have a mother...", "Let's go, Serbs, Turks".

In a post on the club's Facebook page, FK Jezero expressed its "deep regret that right before the start, but also during the Petrovac-Jezero football match, we witnessed scenes that we are sure have no place at sports events".

"All decision-makers, according to their powers, would have to make the necessary contribution so that this, at the very least, unsportsmanlike practice is not repeated.

Our club has always been, but even today, it can be an example to everyone else how, without the influence of politics and any other inappropriate content, you can support your club in sports. After all, thanks to such pure and sincere emotion, we survive and record successes all the time", stated the Plav club.

According to Article 74 paragraph 1, Petrovac could be fined, banned from playing up to 12 games on his playground or all playgrounds in a certain area, by playing up to six games on his playground or all playgrounds in a certain area without the presence of an audience...

Article 97 of the FSCG Disciplinary Rulebook paragraph 1 describes the possible punishments for anyone "who publicly insults, belittles or discriminates against another on the basis of race (including skin color), national, regional, religious or ethnic affiliation, points out symbols that denote intolerance, or shows types of extremist ideological propaganda".

In paragraph two, it is stated that "a club whose fans insult players, club, association, football officials or spectators with gestures or written banners, on the basis of paragraph 1 of this article, or point out symbols from paragraph 1 of this article, will be subject to a disciplinary measure:

- a fine, and in more serious cases, in addition to a fine, up to three games can be imposed on one's playing field without the presence of an audience."

"In the event of a repeated violation, the club will be subject to a disciplinary measure - the deduction of up to nine points, i.e. up to nine negative points, and in the case of the third and every subsequent violation, relegation to a lower rank of the competition or disqualification from further Cup competitions," reads Article 97.

"Disciplinary measures provided for in this article may be mitigated or not imposed, if the club, players or club officials have proven that they are not responsible or that they are responsible only to a lesser extent for the offenses referred to in this article or if there are some other mitigating circumstances, especially if offenses committed with the intention of punishing the player or the club in accordance with this article," reads the last paragraph of Article 97 of the FSCG Disciplinary Rules.