KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) – Iranian football club Esteghlal FC has been ordered to pay fines totaling $51,000 over the misconduct of its spectators who flashed laser beams at opposing players and the referee during two recent matches.
The Asian Football Confederation’s disciplinary committee also said Wednesday that if there are further similar breaches over the next two years, Esteghlal FC will be forced to play a home game in an empty stadium.
The AFC said home fans at Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Feb. 7, in addition to flashing the lasers, also threw projectiles on to the field which caused explosions during a 0-0 draw with Al Sadd of Qatar.
It said fans also flashed lasers during the club’s 2-0 win in an ACL match in Tehran on March 13 against Lokomotiv of Uzbekistan.