UEFA came down hard on Valencia and Inter Milan following their postgame brawl in last week's Champions League.
Valencia defender David Navarro was suspended for seven months — one of the harshest penalties UEFA has ever handed out — five other players were also suspended, and both teams were fined $204,000.
After Inter midfielder Nicolas Burdisso attacked Valencia defender Carlos Marchena following the 0-0 tie that sent Valencia through to the quarterfinals, a fight broke out, and Navarro, an unused substitute, charged onto the field and punched Burdisso, breaking his nose. The trouble extended to the tunnel and Valencia locker room, and Guardia Civil were called in to restore order.
Burdisso and Inter teammate Maicon were both suspended for six Champions League matches, while Inter's Ivan Cordoba and Julio Cruz received suspensions of three and two games, respectively. Marchena was banned for four Champions League matches.
The brawl was another black eye for European soccer, reeling from a spate of violence on and off the field.
''We need to be radical in our approach,'' new UEFA president Michel Platini said. ''Players have many rights but they have many duties, too.''
Both Inter and Valencia plan to consider appeals of the fines and suspensions, and Inter president Massimo Moratti called the suspensions a ''slap in the face.''