Uefa will have a tough decision to take next Friday.

European football’s leading body will be dealing with the disturbances that led to the suspension of the Euro 2012 qualifying game between Italy and Serbia, which was supposed to have been played in Genoa. The match, the start of which was delayed by half an hour as attempts were made to control the Serbian crowd, was abandoned after seven minutes when it became clear that the safety of the players – and that of other sections of the fans – was in jeopardy.

There are several issues that need to be sorted out.

Serbia, of course, must pay for the behaviour of its fans, if they can be called such. It had been a long time since we saw such scenes in a football stadium. The aim may have been political, but using sport in such a way is something that Uefa must punish heavily.

It is being suggested that Serbia should forfeit the points. Some are saying that Serbia should play all its remaining home games in this competition in neutral pitches, while others are even more drastic and are proposing that the country should be kicked out.

What is sure is that Uefa cannot allow such incidents to go by without lifting a finger. It must show that it will not tolerate violence to tarnish the game’s reputation. If the judgment is seen to be lenient, it would encourage other violent factions of supporters to use the game for their own purposes.

Italy are pushing for at least the points of the game to be won. They know that Serbia could be one of the main contenders to finish top place in the group – in spite of Serbia’s home defeat to Estonia, which is what seems to have triggered the Serbian fans’ protests – and the three points would give them a good lead. It was not their fault that the game had to be interrupted.

Serbia, of course, would like the game to be replayed, and they have in fact already cancelled a friendly match against Bulgaria, which was scheduled for 17 November, the day that will most likely be chosen for a replay if Uefa were to go down this road.

After the initial apologies, Serbia are now insisting that the Italians should share part of the blame because, after all, the game was played in Italy, and it is the home team that must guarantee the safety of spectators inside the stadium. That the Serbian fans were allowed to take in flares and tools to use to rip seats and destroy protective nets is to be blamed on the Italian security system that was not so efficient.

On the other hand, the Italian police have been commended for the way they tackled the situation. Forcing themselves in on the Serbian crowd would have potentially led to an even more dangerous situation, especially for those people who were in the Serbian sector of the stadium but who had nothing to do with the chaos.

It is a tough call for Uefa. Let us hope that the punishment will be severe so as to act as a deterrent.