CSKA Sofia given record fine and two-match crowd ban

SOFIA, Aug 15 (Reuters) Bulgaria's CSKA Sofia were given a record fine and ordered to host their next two premier league matches behind closed doors because of fan violence during their league match at Litex Lovech on Saturday.

The Bulgarian Football Union's (BFU) disciplinary commission fined CSKA 26,060 dollars and handed them a one-match crowd ban relating to the display of discriminative and abusive banners.

The club were also fined a further 2,085 dollars and given an additional match crowd ban for the behaviour of their supporters during an ill-tempered 1-1 draw at fellow title favourites Litex, marred by three red cards and 10 bookings.

Fans of the 30-times Bulgarian champions threw objects onto the pitch, hitting one policeman.

The crowd ban, handed down by BFU will affect CSKA's opening home league matches this season -- against Belasitsa Petrich on Sunday and against Beroe Stara Zagora on September 2.

CSKA officials have said they would appeal as they consider the sanctions harsh.

''We'll insist this commission (BFU's disciplinary commission) to be dissolved,'' CSKA's official Emil Kostadinov told reporters.

''We'll appeal the decision and try to convince the appeal commission to mitigate the punishment.'' The BFU also fined Litex 3,475 dollars after their president Angel Bonchev attempted to manhandle referee Tsvetan Georgiev on his way to the dressing room. Litex's Ivelin Popov was fined 2,085 dollars for obscene gestures to the crowd.

Champions and CSKA's bitter city rivals Levski were also given two-match crowd ban in May after hooliganism marred their 6-2 win over Litex on the final day of last season.

REUTERS TB KN1525