Bulgaria handed partial stadium ban for fans' racist behaviour

FILE PHOTO: Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group A - Bulgaria v Kosovo

(Reuters) - Bulgaria have been ordered by UEFA to play their next two home Euro 2020 qualifiers in a partially-closed stadium due to racist behaviour by their supporters.

European soccer's governing body opened disciplinary proceedings against the Bulgarian Football Union after incidents involving their supporters during qualifiers against Kosovo and Czech Republic earlier this year.

The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body announced on Friday that Bulgaria must close a section of 5,000 seats at the Vasil Levski national stadium when England visit on Oct. 14.

A section of 3,000 seats will be closed when Bulgaria host Czech Republic on Nov. 17.

The blocked sections for both matches will display a banner with the wording "#EqualGame" and the UEFA logo on it.

(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)