FILE - In this May 12, 2013, file photo AC Milan players Mario Balotelli, left, Kevin Prince Boateng (10) stand on the pitch during a stoppage in play in a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and AS Roma, at Milan's San Siro Stadium. The game was stopped for almost two minutes because of racial abuse by Roma fans towards Balotelli and Boateng. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File) (The Associated Press)
LONDON – UEFA says its executive committee has agreed to introduce a 10-match minimum ban for racist abuse by players or officials.
The committee also decided to raise the minimum ban for assaulting match officials from 10 to 15 matches. For insulting a match official, the minimum sanction will rise from two to three matches.
The venues for the finals of the UEFA club competitions in 2015 were also approved — Berlin's Olympic Stadium for the Champions League and Warsaw's National Stadium for the Europa League.
UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino says details on the format of the Europa League will be announced to its congress on Friday, with the winners set to earn a place in the Champions League.
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