NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Serbian soccer club Red Star Belgrade was fined by UEFA for fans chanting in honor of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic, who died on the day of a Europa League game last week.
Red Star fans chanted the name of Mladic, saluted him and showed a banner thanking and praising him at a 5-1 loss at Czech club Viktoria Plzeň on Aug. 27.
Mladic was the Bosnian Serb commander who oversaw the massacre of more than 8,000 Muslims in Srebrenica in 1995 and other war crimes. Mladic died in The Hague where he was serving a life sentence for genocide. He was 84.
UEFA said late Friday its judges fined Red Star 90,000 euros ($104,500) for charges including chants not fit for a sports event plus “racist and/or discriminatory behavior.”
Red Star also was banned from selling tickets to fans for its next away game in a UEFA competition. That will apply when the Serbian champion visits Swiss club Lugano in the third-tier Conference League.
UEFA deferred another away tickets ban on Red Star for a two-year probationary period.
Red Star, the European champion in 1991, has a long track record of disciplinary sanctions from UEFA for misconduct by fans including racist slurs against Roma people.
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A mural shows former Bosnian Serb wartime general Ratko Mladic in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Richard Hughes has stepped down from his role as Liverpool sporting director, becoming the latest high-ranking executive to depart the Premier League club recent months.
Hughes, who is reportedly set to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, is leaving less than two months after Michael Edwards exited as CEO of football for Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group.
Liverpool said Saturday that Hughes wanted to “seek a fresh challenge.”
Hughes had joined the club in 2024 and oversaw the appointment of head coach Arne Slot after iconic manager Jurgen Klopp stepped down.
Liverpool went on to win the Premier League title the following season but endured a disappointing campaign last term despite spending around $500 million on new signings. Slot was fired at the end of the season and replaced by Andoni Iraola.
“Richard joined us at the start of a period of change, embracing that responsibility by leading our football operations department and overseeing recruitment while also providing valuable support to our coaching staff," FSG president Mike Gordon said. “The results we achieved in these areas during this period are testament to this contribution. Nevertheless, we respect Richard’s life choices and wish him and his family well in their next venture.”
Edwards left in July, bringing to an end his second spell at the club. During his first stint at Liverpool, he was heavily credited with the club's success in the transfer market when players like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk were key figures in a trophy-laden run for Klopp's team, including the Premier League and Champions League.
Liverpool said the process had already begun to find a new sporting director.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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FILE - A general view of the Anfield stadium ahead of the Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Liverpool, England, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)
