Soccer-Drunken Danish fan gets suspended sentence

COPENHAGEN, Sept 4 (Reuters) The drunken Danish fan who attacked the referee in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden in June was handed a suspended 30-day prison sentence by a Copenhagen court today.

The 29-year-old was found guilty of attempted assault and illegal entry and must also complete 40 hours of community service, the court said in a statement.

Danish media reported that the court had said the offences would normally result a spell in jail, but that the fan had already suffered significant consequences after the assault.

The Danish Football Association (DBU) said in a statement that its lawsuit, seeking damages of 1.9 million crowns, had been referred to a civil court.

The June 2 Group F match with Sweden was abandoned in the 89th minute with the score at 3-3 in Copenhagen when the fan assaulted referee Herbert Fandel after he awarded the Swedes a penalty.

UEFA later awarded Sweden a 3-0 victory, fined the DBU 50,000 Swiss francs and ordered Denmark to play their next two home qualifiers at least 140 km away from Copenhagen.

Parken Sport&Entertainment, the owners of Parken stadium, have said they will seek civil damages of seven million crowns.

REUTERS RS KN2235