The International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Wednesday it had maintained its ban on riders throwing used water bottles to fans, insisting it is dangerous, but has reduced the penalty for doing so.

Riders protested the new rules after Michael Schaer was disqualified from the Tour of Flanders on April 4 for throwing away a bottle to a group of young spectators.

The Swiss rider discarded the object and immediately held his head in his hands realising his mistake.

The practice is long-standing in the sport with supporters collecting them as memorabilia.

The UCI had banned the tradition after incidents caused accidents during races, such as when former Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas suffered a costly tumble at the 2020 Giro d’Italia.

Riders can use two or three bottles per hour on a hot day, but the UCI wants them discarded at pre-designated waste-drop zones.

Under the softened rules a rider can no longer be thrown off a race for a first offence.

But the global body said throwing bottles “constitutes a danger for the public and the riders.”

“The UCI hopes to avoid situations that can encourage fans, especially young ones trying to get closer to the riders and the race,” the UCI said.

A first offence is now punishable with a fine of 90-450 euros ($107-$539).

A second occurence would see a rider docked time in a Tour or thrown off a one day race.

In the case of a third offence on a Tour, a rider would be excluded from the event, the UCI said.

Euro 2020 will kick-off as scheduled on June 11 in Rome after European football’s governing body UEFA on Wednesday “fully confirmed” the Italian capital after receiving guarantees that fans would be present in the Stadio Olimpico.

Rome was one of four of the 12 host cites in the pan-European tournament threatened with having its matches removed because it could not give assurances that spectators would be allowed into grounds given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“The authorities have guaranteed at least 25 percent of the stadium’s capacity will be filled,” European football’s governing body said.

“As a result, UEFA considers Rome to be fully confirmed as a venue for the tournament.”But uncertainty remains over three other cities — Munich, Bilbao and Dublin — who have been given until April 19 to provide UEFA with additional information on their plans for spectators.

Rome’s 68,000-capacity Olympic stadium is set to host the opening fixture for the tournament, between Turkey and Italy, on June 11. 

It was also picked to host Italy’s other group matches against Switzerland and Wales, as well as a quarter-final.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has warned that countries that failed to offer guarantees on supporter numbers could be dropped as hosts.

Dublin’s Aviva Stadium is scheduled to host three group matches and a last-16 game but there are growing doubts over the issue of fan attendance.

The Football Association of Ireland said last week it was “not in a position at this point to provide assurances on minimum spectator levels at the UEFA Euro 2020 matches due to be held in Dublin in June”.

London’s Wembley will host seven matches and England’s Football Association is planning for the stadium to operate at a “minimum 25 percent” capacity with the possibility of increasing the numbers for the two semi-finals and July 11 final.

The tournament was postponed from last year due to the Covid-19 outbreak.