Czech club fined after Flyers right-winger Wayne Simmonds racially abused in game

The Czech Ice Hockey Association said Tuesday it had fined top-flight Pirati Chomutov after its fans showered racist insults on black NHL player Wayne Simmonds during a game.

Canada's Simmonds, the Philadelphia Flyers' right wing, joined another Czech top-flight side Bili Tygri Liberec amid the NHL lock-out sparked by failed talks with the players' unions.

Chomutov were hit with a penalty of $1,555 for chants heard during their clash with Liberec in the top league on Sunday.

"We are disgusted by the behaviour of a group of fans who harmed the reputation of the club," Pirati marketing director David Dinda said after the game.

Chomutov also apologized to Simmonds in a letter immediately after the incident.