UEFA Champions League: Lens fans banned from Liverpool game for throwing flares that stopped play

RC Lens fans let off flares in the stands during the club’s Champions League games against Club Brugge and Slavia Prague. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Fans of French club RC Lens were banned from buying tickets for the club’s 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 November 24 and at Liverpool at Anfield on January 27. A third game ban is deferred for a two-year probationary period.

UEFA said Lens was fined €80,000 ($89,000) for charges of “lighting and throwing of pyrotechnics as well as for acts of damage.”