Basketball-Levski Sofia hit with supporter ban and fine

SOFIA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Levski Sofia will have to play their next two Adriatic League (ABA) home matches behind closed doors and pay a 5,500 euros fine ($6,866.2) because of the behaviour of their fans, the Bulgarian club said. The match between Levski Sofia and Serbia's Partizan Belgrade on Saturday was interrupted for almost an hour after the end of the first quarter due to fan violence. Fights broke out in the Universiada Hall's stands and then more than 100 Levski supporters invaded the court, clashing with the small group of Partizan fans, security staff and throwing seats, chairs and other objects. The stewards and the two team's players and coaches were unable to calm them down and baton-wielding police arrived in the hall to restore order. Some 12 people were arrested. The match continued following a 50-minute break in an empty hall after visitors Partizan, who won 98-66, said they would only play behind closed doors. The punishment, handed by the ABA, will come in to effect for Levski's highly anticipated home games against Croatia's Cibona on Dec. 20 and Serbia's Crvena Zvezda Telecom three days later. (1 US dollar = 0.8010 euro) (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)