Olympiakos pays price after fans get to Lionel Messi

A fan who ran onto the pitch hugs Barcelona's Lionel Messi during the Champions League group D soccer match between Olympiakos and Barcelona at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium at Piraeus port, near Athens, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP)

NYON, Switzerland — After Lionel Messi was twice approached by fans on the field during a Champions League game, UEFA has fined Olympiakos 60,000 euros ($70,000).

UEFA says Greek champion Olympiakos was found guilty of "field invasions by supporters" among a range of charges relating to the Oct. 31 game.

Messi was hugged and kissed by a male fan near the corner flag, and he was approached by a fan for a selfie photograph late in the 0-0 draw in Piraeus.

The UEFA-imposed fine also included charges for "illicit chants" by Olympiakos fans who also aimed laser pointers at Barcelona players.

[relatedlinks]

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.