UEFA punishes Red Star for latest fan racism incident

Police officers stand in front of Red Star soccer fans light torches during a Serbian National soccer league derby match between Partizan and Red Star, in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

NYON, Switzerland — UEFA has punished Red Star Belgrade for the latest “racist behavior” by its fans, and banned the club from selling tickets to its fans for a Champions League game at Tottenham.

UEFA says its disciplinary panel found the charge proven against the Serbian champion at a qualifying rounds game against HJK Helsinki in Finland in July.

Red Star cannot sell tickets for its next Group B away game, in London on Oct. 22, and was fined 50,000 euros ($54,600).

The UEFA punishment follows similar fan incidents last season. Charges of racist behavior, illicit chants and crowd disorder led to Red Star playing a home playoff game in an empty stadium and being barred from selling tickets to two group-stage games away from home.

Red Star was ordered to pay UEFA fines totaling 191,000 euros ($208,000) last season, and 122,000 euros ($133,000) so far this season.