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FOOTBALL

Win over Serbia puts Denmark at top of group

Playing in front on an empty stadium in Belgrade, Denmark came back from a goal down to top Serbia 3-1 in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday.

Win over Serbia puts Denmark at top of group
Denmark's Simon Kjaer (R) celebrates his goal agianst Serbia with teammate Nicklas Bendtner during their Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match in Belgrade. Photo: Marko Djurica/Scanpix
After Serbia’s Zoran Tosic put his club up 1-0 just four minutes into play, Danish striker Nicklas Bendnter equalised at the hour mark and again in the match’s waning minutes, while defender Simon Kjær added another to move Denmark to the top of Group I with seven points in four games. 
 
The match was played in front of an empty stadium after Serbia and Albania’s qualifier last month in Belgrade's Partizan Stadium was cancelled shortly after a drone flew over the pitch flying a nationalistic flag depicting so-called Greater Albania. Serbia's Stefan Mitrovic grabbed the flag while it was still hanging in the air before clashing with Albanian players – scenes that rapidly spread to the remaining of the pitch and into the stands. The game was cancelled and governing body Uefa declared it a 3-0 loss for Albania while also stripping Serbia of three points and decreeing that its next two home matches would be played in front of empty stands. 
 
Denmark’s national coach Morten Olsen was thrilled with his club’s come from behind win. 
 
"We have a bad habit of falling behind and all is well when you score three to turn the game around, but we have to be more focused in the early stages," he said at a post-game press conference. 
 
Denmark sits one point above Portugal in group standings. 

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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