England handed record fine for crowd trouble during Turkey game

In a statement UEFA said its disciplinary committee "expressed their grave concern at the potential risk that occurred to match participants (players and officials) and totally condemned the offensive and racist verbal abuse of opposing fans".

The English and Turkish FAs however have been warned by European football’s governing body that any more repeat performances could see them banned from Euro 2004.

The fine was the largest handed out for a racism-related charge by UEFA.

Spokesman Mike Lee said: "It sends a very clear signal and warning to the English FA about both of these issues; safety and security on the one hand and also the issue of the racist behaviour of English fans on the other hand.

Some analysts however believe the 150,000 Swiss Francs fine, while a record one, will not do anything to cure the "English disease".

If anything, it will be dwarfed by the profits from the June 11 qualifier against Slovakia at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium, where home support should help England to stay on course for a money-spinning place in the Euro 2004 finals.

In another decision announced on Thursday, UEFA fined Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson 10,000 Swiss francs for claiming that the Champions League quarter-final draw was fixed.

Both he and the English FA have until 2200 GMT on Monday to appeal