Serbia slap brawl duo with year-long suspensions

THE Serbian FA has banned two Under-21 stars and two coaches involved in last week’s night of shame in Krusevac.

But it continues to deny their fans were racist.

Midfielder Nikola Ninkovic and striker Ognjen Mudrinski got one-year suspensions for trying to brawl with members of the England squad after the controversial Euro 2013 play-off.

Conditioning coach Andreja Milutinovic and goalkeeping coach Srdjan Maksimovic copped two-year KOs for their part in the violence.

Milutinovic headbutted England goalkeeping coach Martin Thomas after the Young Lions had won the second leg 1-0 to book their place at the finals in Israel next summer.

The Serbian FA, known as the FSS, said in a statement: “All four have violated the FSS ethics and fair play code.”

Yet the bans are being seen as a cynical ploy to preempt UEFA’s probe into racist chants by Serb fans.

UEFA charged both countries in the wake of the match, with a hearing due on November 22.