• Euro 2016 qualifiers

Serbia awarded 3-0 win over Albania

Violence erupted after Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic jumped up to take the flag © AP

Enlarge

UEFA has awarded Serbia a 3-0 walkover for their abandoned Euro 2016 qualifier against Albania in Belgrade but have also deducted the Serbians three points and ordered their next two home qualifiers to be played behind closed doors.

Serbia had been charged with the throwing of missiles and fireworks, crowd disturbance, invasion of the pitch by supporters, insufficient organisation and use of a laser pointer.

Albania had been charged with refusing to play and the display of an illicit banner, and both countries have been fined €100,000 (£78,000).

The match on October 14 - Albania's first visit to Belgrade since 1967 - was marred by violence and halted minutes before half-time with the score goalless after fighting broke out between players, staff and supporters, with the players eventually running down the tunnel as play was halted.

During a stoppage in play to clear a flare from the pitch, a drone hovered into view above the arena, dangling beneath it a banner with a flag depicting "Greater Albania" which lays claim to Kosovo and parts of Serbia.

Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic jumped to catch it as it landed and was immediately set upon by Albanian players. The flag ended up in the hands of striker Bekim Balaj.

Substitutes and officials subsequently entered the pitch, and scenes descended into running fights as a number of supporters gained entry to the pitch. With matters seeming to be calming, more intruders entered the arena and had to be restrained by Serbian players, while fighting continued with fists and objects being used as weapons.

Eventually, Albania's players hurriedly exited the pitch via the players' tunnel, pelted by objects and appearing to be set upon by more invaders from the crowd. Serbia's players followed and, with riot police flanking the pitch columns several deep, attempts were made to restore order.

These resulted in an announcement that play would continue, but - after Serbian substitutes and coach Dick Advocaat temporarily returned -- news filtered through that the match officials had decided to abandon the contest.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd