UEFA says clubs not to blame for stabbing

By Darren Ennis

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg are unlikely to face any punishment over the events that led to the stabbing of a Russian fan at Wednesday's UEFA Cup final in Manchester, a top UEFA official said.

But the Russian club may face sanctions over their fans running on to the pitch during and after their 2-0 victory over the Scottish side at the City of Manchester Stadium, UEFA's director of communications William Gaillard said on Thursday.

"We'll have to await the delegates report... but regarding the stabbing, firstly we wish the victim a speedy recovery. Yes, it did take place within the parameters of the stadium and these Rangers fans managed to get into the Zenit zone.

"But this was a small group of individuals for which the clubs and the majority of fans which behaved very well cannot be punished nor held accountable for," he told Reuters.

"But clubs are responsible for the behaviour of their fans inside the stadium, so yes, we could take action over the pitch encroachments if we find any blame with the club."

RUSSIAN STABBED

Five Rangers supporters were arrested and later released without charge by police after a Russian fan was stabbed in the back, while 42 fans were arrested and 15 police officers injured after trouble flared in the city centre.

Police said the majority of the more than 100,000 Rangers fans who descended on the city without tickets were well behaved but said they were sickened by the troublemakers.