MIDDLESBROUGH fans have won praise from a Uefa chief for their outstanding behaviour, despite suffering the disappointment of their team's Cup Final defeat to Sevilla.

Fans were said to have behaved impeccably, when the Spanish club won 4-0 in Eindhoven last week.

In a letter to Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson, Lars-Christer Olsson, chief executive of Uefa, complimented the club on their outstanding Cup run and commended the club's supporters.

He wrote: "You have the satisfaction of knowing that, although your team did not win the game, your support- ers present in Eindhoven proved to the world that football fans can turn a match into a friendly, violence-free celebration."

He also commended Boro's "remarkable" Uefa Cup campaign.

He said: "We would like to compliment you on the remarkable campaign conducted by Middlesbrough FC on the way to the first Uefa Cup final in the club's history, as well as the manner in which your players, despite their disappointment, accepted the verdict of their defeat to Sevilla.