International football governing body FIFA has imposed a fine on Algeria's football association after its fans used laser beams to distract Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev during a decisive match last Friday that saw Russia ousted from the World Cup.
In a statement published Monday on its website, the Algerian football association said FIFA's disciplinary committee had imposed a fine of? 50,000 Swiss francs ($56,000) and reprimanded the country for the unruly behavior of its fans at World Cup matches.
"The Algerian Football Association deplores the behavior of certain fans and wants to remind them that pyrotechnics and lasers are strictly prohibited in football stadiums," the statement said, without explicitly mentioning the controversial match against Russia.
Following the match on Friday, that failed to see Akinfeyev redeem himself for a glaring error against South Korea, Russia coach Fabio Capello said the goalkeeper had been "affected by a laser 10 seconds before the goal."
"He was blinded by a laser; there are photos, films of it," Capello said in a post-match press conference in World Cup host country Brazil, adding he was not trying to excuse Russia's poor performance.
Afinkeyev similarly told newspaper Izvestia he would not go as far as blaming the lasers entirely for shattering Russia's hopes of a World Cup stint.
See also:
Goalkeeper Akinfeev Blinded By Lasers During Crucial Goal, Capello Says
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