European soccer’s governing body has handed Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv a €20,000 ($23,416) fine and could institute a one-game ban on selling tickets to an away match due to fans’ behavior at a recent European fixture.

The penalties were announced in a statement by UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on Wednesday.

The ban, which is on suspension for two years, was issued following a December 11 match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and German club VfB Stuttgart in the latter’s home city.

It was the first game that Maccabi had played away since a controversial match against UK club Aston Villa, which had banned fans of the Israeli club from attending following a police assessment that the supporters were a security risk.

According to the UEFA disciplinary board, Maccabi fans attending the Germany game had shown “racist and/or discriminatory behavior.”

Stuttgart police confirmed to The New York Times on Thursday that they had opened an investigation into fans chanting defamatory slogans as they gathered before the game held at the Neckarstadion venue.

Today in Stuttgart ????????. Extremist supporters of the Israeli ???????? club Maccabi Tel Aviv who have traveled to the city sing openly in German........

© The Times of Israel