THE HAGUE - Feyenoord are appealing their punishment of having to play their next match in Europe behind closed doors after their fans threw firecrackers on to the pitch, Dutch news agency ANP reported on Friday.
The incidents occurred during a UEFA Cup match against Sporting Lisbon in Rotterdam on February 24. The club had had three days to appeal the punishment, imposed on Tuesday and which also included a 25,000 Swiss franc (16,100 euro) fine.
Trouble erupted in the 64th minute just after Leidson had put the Portuguese side into the lead in the second leg of the third round tie to give his side a 3-1 aggregate lead.
One of the fireworks hit Sporting player Rui Jorge which led to German referee Florian Meyer suspending the match and taking the players off the field.
The match resumed 20 minutes later with Sporting going on to win the tie 2-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate to reach the last 16.
The tie had earlier been held up when a smoke-bomb landed at the feet of Sporting goalkeeper Ricardo.
04/08/2005 15:05 GMT