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Serbia, Albania appeal Euro sanctions

Lausanne - The Serbian and Albanian football federations on Thursday appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against sanctions following their abandoned Euro 2016 qualifier.

European football's governing body UEFA awarded the match 3-0 to Serbia but deprived them of the three points after the qualifier in Belgrade was halted when irate home fans invaded the pitch and attacked Albania players after a pro-Albanian flag was flown over the stadium by a drone.

The match, for which Albanian fans had been barred on UEFA's request, was goalless when it was abandoned in the 41st minute as Albania players fled to the changing rooms with chairs and other paraphernalia being thrown at them.

Both nations want the UEFA sanction, which included a $117,000 fine by both clubs, overturned.

Albania and Serbia are in Group I of the Euro 2016 qualifiers, which is led by Denmark on seven points followed by Portugal on six.

Albania won 1-0 in Portugal in September to sit third with four points while Serbia have just one point from three matches.

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