Europa League: Tottenham Hotspurs, Legia Warsaw charged by UEFA

Paris: UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Tottenham and Legia Warsaw for incidents during their Europa League games this week, European football's governing body confirmed on Friday.

Legia Warsaw were charged over racist chanting and the use of fireworks by their fans during the Polish club's 1-0 defeat at Belgian side Lokeren on Thursday, while a series of pitch invasions which disrupted Tottenham's 1-0 win over Partizan Belgrade are to be investigated.

UEFA's disciplinary panel will meet next Tuesday to examine charges of racist behaviour, crowd disturbances and throwing fireworks during Legia's Group L game. Meanwhile, Tottenham's Group C tie in London was interrupted three times in the first half by individual pitch invasions, resulting in play being delayed for ten minutes.

Referee Yevhen Aranovskiy halted the game in the 41st minute after a third person managed to get onto the pitch at White Hart Lane in what appeared to be a publicity stunt.

UEFA said its control, ethics and disciplinary body would hear the charges on December 11.

The North London club apologised for the incident. "We apologise to fans for the disruptions caused by this totally unacceptable behaviour," Tottenham said on their Twitter account. "We shall provide an update as soon as we have established the full facts." Tottenham's victory ensured them of a place in the knockout stages of the competition.