UEFA sanctions three European clubs over fan misconduct

UEFA announced today that it has imposed sanctions on French club Lens, Slovakia's Slovan Bratislava, and Serbia's Red Star Belgrade.

UEFA has banned Lens from selling tickets to its fans for two away Champions League matches, specifically against Germany's RB Leipzig on November 24 and England's Liverpool on January 27. An additional one-match ban is suspended for two years, pending good behavior during the probation period.

The European football body also fined Lens €80,000 (about $89,000) for the use and throwing of fireworks, as well as acts of vandalism.

Lens supporters ignited flares and fireworks, throwing some onto the pitch and towards opponents, which caused the team's match against Belgium's Club Brugge to be halted. Lens lost that match 3-0 last week.

In a separate case, UEFA banned Slovan Bratislava from selling tickets to its fans for their next away match against Austria's LASK on November 3, and fined the club €40,000 (about $44,500) for crowd disturbances during last week's 4-0 defeat to Italy's Roma.

In the UEFA Europa Conference League, Red Star Belgrade, the 1991 European champions, were fined €83,500 (about $93,000) and ordered to close part of their stadium for their next home game against Inter Club d'Escaldes of Andorra on November 5, due to racist behavior by their supporters.