'Racist' chanting lands Maccabi Tel Aviv with fan ban and €20,000 fine by UEFA

Maccabi Tel Aviv, whose supporters were controversially excluded from a match at Aston Villa last month, have been given a suspended one-match away fan ban by UEFA for behaviour it called "racist and/or discriminatory".

The Israeli club was also fined €20,000 (£17,550) by UEFA's control, ethics and disciplinary body (CEDB) in relation to their fan's conduct at a Europa League away game against Stuttgart on 11 December. The CEDB also imposed a ban on Maccabi selling tickets to their fans for their next UEFA competition match away from home, suspended for a probationary period of two years.

It is understood that the sanction related to anti-Arab chanting by Maccabi fans. Maccabi supporters were controversially barred from travelling for safety reasons for an earlier Europa League tie away game to Villa on 6 November by the local safety advisory group (SAG), which said it had acted on advice from West Midlands Police.

The decision was heavily criticised by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "wrong". Read more from Sky News:PM demands Abramovich transfers £2.5bn for Ukraine or face legal actionFIFA announces £45 World Cup tickets in price climbdown Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy called on the police to review its decision.

Police chiefs were called to give evidence to the Home Affairs Committee of MPs on 1 December regarding the decision, with the committee chair Karen Bradley having requested further information in letters to the police, the SAG and the UK Football Policing Unit. The fine was one of a number levied against international sides by the UEFA body, including a €116,000 fine against Bayern Munich for blocking of public passageways and lighting of fireworks.

There was no immediate comment from Maccabi in response to its fine and fan ban. Maccabi Tel Aviv CEO Jack Angelides admitted to Sky News last month the club has a racism problem in sections of the fan base.

He said: "We know we've got a long road ahead. There are elements in the club that are not in line with our values, our morals, and we do expend a lot of energy and have been for many, many years in trying to… eradicate that.".