After finding themselves up against difficult opponents in Poland's Legia Warsaw, any hopes Cork City had of a lucrative run through the Champions League qualifiers came undone during the week.
Beaten 3-0 in the Polish capital, the club's board have today revealed additional reasons for dissatisfaction; a UEFA fine that is the largest in the club's history.
An incident that took place during the first leg of this tie that took place in Turner's Cross, Cork City revealed in a statement this afternoon that "the use of 6 smoke bombs" by home fans had resulted in a €3,000 fine for the club.
Due to the club's hitherto impeccable record in such matters, the statement was certain that an "excellent track record" had kept the UEFA sanction "to a minimum."
Naturally disappointed with what is an unnecessary headache for the club, the representatives of Cork City did not shy away from their inevitable frustrations:
We are deeply frustrated and angered that the actions of a handful of individuals have resulted in a sanction that the club can ill afford.
On what "was an historic night for the club," the club will now be required to pay close heed to a "UEFA report review" that will be carefully consulted before the club undertake Europa League action in August.
Sounding a word of warning for the "handful of individuals" involved in bringing this fine upon the club, Cork City wished to explain that any further such behaviour will likely resulted in the club being sanctioned "with an even higher fine."
As such, the club "appears to the fans for their cooperation to ensure this doesn't occur."
You can read the statement in its entirety here.
