FIFA suspends Bosnian stadium for two games

SARAJEVO (Reuters) -- FIFA has banned the stadium in the Bosnian town of Zenica for two games because a Spanish player was hit by an object thrown from the crowd in a World Cup qualifier last month, Bosnia's Football Association (NSBIH) said on Wednesday.

Bosnia were set to play Serbia and Montenegro in Zenica on October 9 in a high-risk World Cup Group Seven game.

But the match will now be played in Sarajevo's Olympic Kosevo stadium, NSBIH Secretary-General Munib Usanovic said.

FIFA has also fined the NSBIH 10,000 Swiss Francs ($7,950) over the incident in which a small pool ball hit Juan Valeron. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Usanovic said the NSBIH was "stunned and disappointed" with the decision and its timing because it had been informed the incident would be not discussed until November.

"They brought forward the session of the commission and held it via telephone," he said.

The 14,000-seat stadium in Zenica, where home fans usually create a noisy atmosphere and where the team are unbeaten for several years, was also the centre of controversy a year ago before Bosnia's deciding qualifier for Euro 2004 with Denmark.

UEFA ordered Bosnia not to play in Zenica because the Bilino Polje stadium's infrastructure did not meet the required criteria and the match was moved to the Kosevo. The stadium has since been renovated and cleared to host international matches.

Next month's qualifier between Bosnia and Serbia and Montenegro, the countries that emerged from the ruins of former Yugoslavia, is deemed as potentially very dangerous.

There were no incidents in August 2002 when the-then Yugoslavia won 2-0 in a friendly in Sarajevo.

But Sarajevo fans clashed with police and smashed cars in August last year when their team drew 1-1 with Serbian side Sartid Smederevo in a UEFA CUP qualifier.

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