Uefa Award 3-0 Victory to Sweden Following Fan Attack in Denmark

Uefa today awarded Sweden a 3-0 win over Denmark following the abandonment of last Saturday Euro 2008 qualifier in Copenhagen.

The teams were deadlocked on 3-3 in the 89th minute when a drunk Danish fan, apparently angered by referee Herbert Fandel's decision to award Sweden a penalty following a blatant punch by Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen, charged on to the pitch and tried to attack Fandel. Although the fan's swipe was partially deflected by quick-thinking Danish defender Michael Gravgaard, the referee decided to immediately abandon the match.

In addition to awarding the match to Sweden by default, Uefa fined the Danish Football Association (DBU) 100,000CHF (approximately £41,500) and ordered them to play their next four home Euro 2008 qualifiers at least 250km from Copenhagen. These matches are the games against Liechtenstein, Spain, Latvia and Iceland. The Liechtenstein match will also have to be played behind closed doors. After receving written confirmation of Uefa's decision, the DBU will have three days to file an appeal.

The decision means Sweden are comfortably top of Group F with 18 points, three clear of second-place Spain and five ahead of third-place Northern Ireland. Denmark, meanwhile, are in fourth, virtually out of contention on 10 points. Northern Ireland, who have already returned from Copenhagen with a valuable point, had wanted Uefa to order a replay, no doubt in the hope that it would end in a draw, a result that would not only keep Sweden within their sights but also increase the likelihood of the Danes having something to play for when Spain travel to the Parken Stadium in October.

Poulsen, meanwhile, was suspended for three matches.