St. Pauli has been ordered to play its next home match in the Bundesliga in an empty stadium after a fan threw a full plastic beer cup at a linesman last week.
The German football federation's sport tribunal made the ruling on Friday. St. Pauli is appealing the decision.
''We want to explain our position at a hearing,'' club president Stefan Orth said.
The Hamburg club is battling relegation. It is second from last in the Bundesliga with six games to play, and its next home match is against Werder Bremen on Easter Saturday.
''The punishment is too harsh,'' team manager Christian Boenig said. ''This was a single offender who threw a beer cup in a moment of emotion. It wasn't organized. Apart from that it punishes Werder Bremen, an innocent party. We cannot accept that.''
A hearing is expected to take place early next week.
Last Friday's home match against Schalke was abandoned in the 87th minute, with visiting Schalke leading 2-0. Schalke was later awarded the win by that score.
The German federation says St. Pauli was responsible for the incident because the cup was thrown from the ranks of home supporters.
