ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - FIFA has significantly reduced penalties against Albania and Costa Rica for unruly fan behaviour in 2006 World Cup qualifiers. Albania will have to play their next home game against Georgia behind closed doors, FIFA's appeal committee said in a statement issued late Friday.

Originally FIFA's disciplinary committee had said Albania would have to play two games without fans.

A fine imposed on Albania was also cut from 40,000 Swiss francs (US$34,000; euro25,600) to 20,000 francs (US$17,000; euro12,800).

Costa Rica will still have to play their home qualifier against Panama on March 26 behind closed doors, but their fine was reduced from 20,000 francs to 10,000 francs (US$8,500; euro6,400).

The sanctions against Costa Rica were imposed because spectators threw objects at opposing players during a match with Mexico last month. Mexico won the game, 2-1.

Albania's punishment resulted from the side's February 9 qualifier against Ukraine. Home fans threw objects onto the Tirana pitch, including bottles, coins and flagpoles. They also lit flares and stormed the pitch at the end of the game, which Albania lost 2-0.

Soccer's world governing body also noted that it had fined Albania for similar incidents in October and threatened harsher punishment for further rule violations.

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