Motherwell have been hit with a €74,000 bill by HJK Helsinki for damage to LED advertising boards, taking the cost of UEFA fines and fan-related issues in recent weeks to almost £100,000.
The club revealed last week that they had been fined almost €20,000 for fan-related issues flagged by UEFA during their Europa Conference League qualifiers against HJK and Havnar Boltfelag. In Helsinki, in the third qualifying round, fans leapt over the barrier and LED advertising before entering the field of play, leading to a €14,000 fine, while the club was also fined an additional €4,000 for fans blocking passageways in the John Hunter Stand at Fir Park against Havnar Boltfelag in the second qualifying round clash.
Club statement warns fans after costly incidents
Ahead of the Steelmen facing German Bundesliga side Freiburg on Thursday night in the second leg of their Europa Conference League play-off round tie, in which Motherwell trail 3-1, the club issued a warning to supporters over their behaviour as they hinted more punishment could follow for an incident already flagged from last week's first leg with Freiburg.
The club statement read: "What a few weeks it has been for Motherwell Football Club. The number of supporters attending matches at Fir Park, on the road domestically and in Europe has been exceptional. Indeed, for the last 12 months crowd numbers have been significantly up, and we can’t thank you enough for all of your support. The players and staff will never, ever take for granted the effort it takes for you to follow the team."
"With over 1,400 Motherwell fans preparing to jet off to Germany later this week, the excitement is high for what will be an excellent trip for everyone to make memories on the continent with their friends and family. However, as we stated last week, the club received fines of almost €20,000 for fan-related issues that had been flagged by UEFA. We were fined €4,000 due to the blocking of passageways in the John Hunter Stand at Fir Park against Havnar Boltfelag. In Helsinki against HJK, we were fined €15,000 for a group of Motherwell supporters who leapt over the barrier and LED advertising before entering the field of play."
Repair costs and potential further sanctions
"The last time we played in European competition, we also received two fines for fan-related incidents. Since communicating these recent fines, the club has received the cost of the repair work that HJK require for their LED advertisement boards. It is estimated that this will cost the club over €74,000. Between this and the UEFA fines, we have already incurred fines / costs of close to €100,000 this season."
"We are not targeting a specific group of supporters or anyone in particular for these matters, but if you know you jumped over the barrier, or even worse, entered the field of play, you know who you are. And we’re asking you to please restrain yourself should another celebratory moment arise. This moment created a lot of uncertainty, and the safety of the fans was compromised, as anyone could have been injured."
"Last week during our home match at Fir Park against SC Freiburg, despite our calls for everyone to remain in the stands, UEFA flagged supporters jumping over the wall from the John Hunter Stand. Even one supporter entering the field of play is regarded by UEFA as a pitch incursion, and this is subject to an ongoing disciplinary decision. A second offence results in a minimum penalty of a further €24,000."
"We fully appreciate how big these moments are, and we can all get a bit carried away. But such behaviour is taking things too far, and it’s causing a financial strain on the football club, as well as the further risk of harsher punishments growing."
The club has previously received fines, costs of damage to away stadiums and suspended ticket sanctions for other fan-related issues domestically, totalling almost £15,000 in recent seasons. The statement concluded: "We therefore need everyone to continue supporting the team, but in a responsible and safe manner. Please don’t be the person who causes stadium damage or brings further sanctions/fines on the club. We want more people to be in the stands, not less."
