UEFA has decided to ban Serbia's Partizan Belgrade from participation in all European competitions for a one-year period.

This is as a result of violence at last week's UEFA Cup qualifier in Mostar,Bosnia when Partizan’s fans provoked incidents with the home town Zrinjski supporters. Twenty-seven policemen and nine fans were injured in the clashes after the match that ended with Zrinjski's 6-1 home defeat.

"UEFA officials pointed out that, in the last five years, Partizan has been fined on 25 occasions out of 36 UEFA competitions matches, which made it crucial for Control and Disciplinary Body in reaching such a

Strong decision,” the UEFA statement read.

In addition to the ban, the club were also fined 50,000 Swiss francs (30,200 euros, 41,500 dollars).

"This is the most severe blow in the 60-year long history of Partizan Belgrade. A great loss and what could be worse?” commented the Serbian club secretary General Zarko Zecevic.

Matches between Bosnian Croat and Muslim teams and those from neighbouring Serbia are treated as high risk events, following Bosnia's 1992-95 war that pitted the country's three ethnic groups against each other.

Serbia was also recently at the centre of another race row, during the recent European Under 21 championships, when there was also a mass scuffle and claims of racial abuse from Serbian players and fans aimed at Man City’s Nedum Onuoha and Arsenal’s Justin Hoyte.

The Man City youngster(pictured on the right) joined HOSANA Sportswear and Kick It Out on a photo shoot at the Carrington training ground to promote The 2007 Week of Action, that will take place between the 18 - 30 October, at all the professional football clubs and at various football related organisations across England.

www.kickitout.org