MOSCOW, April 10 - RAPSI. UEFA is proposing tough sanctions to tackle racism in football, including a minimum 10-match ban for players or officials found guilty of abuse, AP reports. UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino outlined the plans at the SoccerEx conference in Manchester on Monday.

Infantino noted that if a club's supporters are found guilty of racist abuse, the first sanction will include the partial closure of the area of the stadium where the abuse took place. Repeat offenses will result in the "full closure of the stadium and a minimum fine of 50,000 euros ($65,500)."

Referees will be encouraged to abandon matches if fans direct racist abuse toward players at games, he said.

Infantino did not announce the possible date when the sanctions will be introduced, but they are expected to take effect during the next football season.

The debate on racism intensified this season. One of the most recent examples was the alleged racist chanting directed toward Rio and Anton Ferdinand during the England-San Marino World Cup qualification game. The English FA announced in late March that they failed to find evidence of racist chanting.  On April 8, it said that the investigation will continue.

If England fans are found guilty of the accusations, the English FA may have to pay a fine or play subsequent games behind closed doors.