Aston Villa have been fined €10,000 (£8,625; $11,359) and handed a suspended one-match ban on selling tickets to away fans by UEFA after supporters displayed a “discriminatory banner” during the Europa League final against Freiburg.The ban, which would have applied to their first Champions League away game of the 2026-27 season, is suspended for a probationary period of two years.UEFA, European football’s governing body, announced on Wednesday that its Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) had reached the decision.A UEFA source, speaking anonymously as they weren’t authorised to do so publicly, told The Athletic the banner in question referenced the traveller community.UEFA rules dictate that “the match organiser, together with the police commander for the match and the safety and security officer, must prevent any provocative action being taken by spectators inside or in the immediate vicinity of the stadium (unacceptable levels of verbal provocation from spectators towards players or opposing fans, racist behaviour, provocative banners or flags, etc.).“Should such action arise, the match organiser, the police commander for the match and the safety and security officer must intervene over the public address system or remove any offensive material.”In cases that are deemed “serious racist incidents” match officials also have the ability to stop matches and request that an announcement is played over the public address system that asks supporters to stop “racist behaviour”, which applies to banners as well as chants and insults.Villa beat Freiburg on May 20 to win the Europa League, their first European trophy in 44 years. Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia and Morgan Rogers were on the scoresheet as Unai Emery’s side eased to a 3-0 win.It was head coach Emery’s fifth Europa league title, after winning the competition three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.Elsewhere, the CEDB decided to fine Paris Saint-Germain €80,000 for the lighting of fireworks by their supporters at the Champions League final win over Arsenal on May 30 and handed the same suspended ban, and also fined the French club €10,875 for throwing objects.Freiburg were fined €30,000 for “for the invasion of the field of play by its supporters” in its Europa League semi-final second leg against Braga on May 7 and ordered to play their next UEFA game behind closed doors, though this is also suspended for two years.Jun 24, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms