Insulted ref stops football match

Uefa is spearheading a campaign against racism in football

A Dutch referee stopped a football match 10 minutes early on Saturday following racist chants from the fans.

Rene Temmink blew the final whistle after fans of the first-division home team ADO The Hague began insulting him and singing anti-Semitic chants.

It is the first time a game has been called off following new legislation to clamp down on insulting chants.

"I think it's clear to everyone that a lot of borders were crossed," said Temmink after making the decision.

"I won't take this, this is unacceptable."

PSV Eindhoven was leading ADO The Hague 2-0 when the match ended on the 80th minute.

The Dutch Football Association is also investigating an incident last month when ADO The Hague fans chanted insults at the fiancee of one of Ajax players, a Dutch actress, during their home encounter.

Uefa action

The Bulgarian parliament adopted a law this week banning swearing, fighting or what it calls vulgar gestures at football matches and other sporting events.

Anyone caught swearing could be jailed for up to 15 days or fined up to $300.

Football is the most popular sport in Bulgaria but correspondents say an increasing number of matches have been disrupted by violent incidents both inside and outside stadiums.

The European football federation, Uefa, has been concerned for some time about the level of racist abuse at football matches.

The pan-European Football Against Racism in Europe (Fare) network - one of Uefa's charity partners - is co-ordinating nearly two weeks of action from 14-26 October against racism in and around football stadiums across the continent.