Euro 2016: Albania declared 3-0 winners in abandoned match -

Albania have been declared winners of an abandoned Euro 2016 qualifier in Serbia by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which reversed a ruling by Europe’s governing body UEFA.

The CAS confirmed on Friday that Albania was responsible for a drone with a nationalistic banner flying over the Belgrade Stadium but that their team had not refused to play on after a stoppage in the game over fan violence on October 14, 2014.

The CAS said, “The evidence did not reveal that the (Albanian federation) FAA refused to play following an order issued by the referee.

“The match stoppage and the eventual abandonment of the match were caused by security lapses of the organisers and acts of violence exerted on the Albanian players by the Serbian fans and at least one security steward.

“As such, the Panel holds that the Football Association of Serbia and not the FAA must be considered as responsible for the match not being played in full. In light of this finding, the CAS Panel has decided that the match between Serbia and Albania be deemed to have been forfeited by the FAS by the score of 0-3.”

UEFA had initially declared Serbia 3-0 winners but then docked them three points over the disturbances.

While the CAS upheld the FAA appeal against the forfeit, it insisted on their responsibility for the drone – which had triggered the incidents.

Fines of 100,000 euros (110,000 dollars) for each association, the three docked points for Serbia, and a UEFA ruling that Serbia has to play two home games behind closed doors were also confirmed.

As a result of the ruling, Albania improve to 10 points in Group I, tied with second-placed Denmark and two behind leaders Portugal.

Serbia slip to last with minus two points. Albania and Serbia meet again on Oct 8 in Tirana.