Ajax hit with UEFA punishment

Ajax hit with UEFA punishment

Published Jan. 18, 2013 7:15 a.m. ET

Dutch giants Ajax have been fined by UEFA after their supporters protested during a Champions League match in October.

Supporters in the Amsterdam ArenA displayed a banner with the slogan "against modern football" and another which depicted a sheikh holding a bag with a dollar sign, with a red line drawn across it.

Fans held a lot one banner saying "against modern football" and another which depicted a sheikh holding a bag with a dollar sign, with a red line drawn across it.

Another banner stated "80 euros for the away section is ridiculous", while other supporters displayed unflattering messages aimed at Manchester City, Chelsea, Red Bull Salzburg and Red Bull Leipzig.

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UEFA said the Dutch club had been fined 10,000euros for "display of a provocative and inappropriate banner."

City are bankrolled by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, while Chelsea are financed by Russia's Roman Abramovich.

Ajax have been European Champions four times, the last in 1995, but have been unable to compete with the financial clout of newly-rich clubs.

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