Partizan Belgrade to play next home match behind closed doors

Photo from the Partizan/Bayern clash in Belgrade

Nyon, SWITZERLAND, August 23 (AP) - Yugoslav team Partizan Belgrade must play its next home match in an empty stadium because the crowd at the team's last home game threw objects onto the field, hitting a referee and a player, European soccer's governing body ruled Friday.

UEFA made the decision to close the stadium to spectators for one home match after trouble at the team's Champions League third-round qualifier against Bayern Munich on Aug. 14. The team's next home match hasn't yet been scheduled.

"Several missiles were thrown by the home supporters, hitting both one of the assistant referees and the German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn," UEFA said. A variety of different objects were thrown, it said.

"The assistant referee was hit on the head and had to receive treatment on the pitch for several minutes before the game could resume."

The club also was fined 20,000 Swiss francs (dlrs 13,300).