Lens supporters light flares during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Club Brugge and Lens in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Republished October 27, 2026 - 10:48 AM
Original Publication Date October 27, 2026 - 10:16 AM
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Fans of French club Lens were banned from buying tickets for a Champions League game at Liverpool by a UEFA disciplinary ruling on Tuesday.
Lens fans lit dozens of flares and threw some toward rival supporters and the field, forcing the team’s Champions League game at Club Brugge last week to be stopped briefly. Lens lost 3-0.
The club already was on probation by UEFA for fans lighting flares and fireworks at a previous Champions League game at Slavia Prague in September.
UEFA said its appeals judges imposed a ban on Lens selling tickets to fans for two Champions League away games.
The sanction will be served when Lens plays at Leipzig on Nov. 24 and at Liverpool at Anfield on Jan. 27. A third game ban is deferred for a two-year probationary period.
UEFA said Lens was fined 80,000 euros ($89,000) for charges of “lighting and throwing of pyrotechnics as well as for acts of damage.”
In a separate Champions League case, UEFA banned Slovan Bratislava from selling tickets to fans for the team's next away game, at LASK on Nov. 3.
UEFA also fined Slovan 40,000 euros ($44,500) on crowd disturbance charges during a 4-0 loss at Roma last week.
In the Conference League, Red Star Belgrade faced charges including racist behavior by fans at a home game against Copenhagen last week. UEFA imposed fines totaling 83,500 euros ($93,000) and ordered a section of the stadium closed for the 1991 European champion's next home game, against Inter Club d'Escaldes of Andorra on Nov. 5.
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