Aston Villa have been fined €10,000 (£8,600) and handed a suspended one-match ban on selling tickets to away supporters by UEFA following the display of a discriminatory banner by fans during the Europa League final. The ban is suspended for a probationary period of two years, meaning it will only be enforced if a similar incident occurs within that timeframe.
Victory overshadowed by fan misconduct
Unai Emery's side secured a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the Istanbul final, ending a 30-year trophy drought. Youri Tielemans opened the scoring in the first half, followed by Emi Buendia doubling the lead just before the break. Morgan Rogers added a third in the 58th minute to seal the triumph.
However, the celebrations were marred by the behaviour of a section of supporters. According to The Athletic, the banner in question referenced the traveller community, leading to UEFA charging the club with racist and/or discriminatory conduct.
UEFA's disciplinary action
A UEFA statement confirmed the penalty: "The ban from selling tickets to its away supporters is suspended for a probationary period of two years, starting from the date of the present decision." This means Aston Villa will not face immediate restrictions on away ticket sales, but any repeat of such behaviour could trigger the ban.
Looking ahead to Champions League
Despite the fine, Villa have much to look forward to. Having finished fourth in the Premier League, they will compete in the Champions League next season, while also being Europa League champions. The club continues to offer premium experiences at Villa Park for the 2026/27 Premier League season through official packages on Seat Unique.
BirminghamLive's football desk, led by dedicated reporter John Townley, provides comprehensive Aston Villa coverage, including matchday reports, press conferences, and transfer stories. Fans can stay updated via the free daily Aston Villa newsletter, WhatsApp updates, or the BirminghamLive app. The Claret and Blue podcast is also available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.
