UEFA announced fines on May 12, 2026, against Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Larnaca for discriminatory behaviour by their supporters in Conference League matches involving Crystal Palace [1, 2].
AEK Larnaca was fined 50,000 euros for chanting by their fans during the round-of-16 tie against Crystal Palace held in March 2026. The club also faces a partial stadium closure for their next UEFA club competition home match as a disciplinary measure [1, 2].
Shakhtar Donetsk received a 30,000-euro fine connected to an illicit banner displayed by their supporters during the semi-final first leg in April 2026 in Krakow, Poland. In addition to this, Shakhtar was fined 4,000 euros for fireworks lighting during the same event. The club received a suspended partial stadium closure for two years, meaning the closure will only take effect if further violations occur during the probation period [1, 2].
Both fines stem from incidents during UEFA Conference League fixtures against Crystal Palace, who will now focus on the final against Rayo Vallecano scheduled for May 27, 2026, in Leipzig [1, 2].
The disciplinary measures formalize UEFA's response to discriminatory conduct at high-profile matches this season involving Eastern European clubs. AEK Larnaca must prepare for playing behind closed sections of their stadium in upcoming UEFA competitions while Shakhtar Donetsk remains under probation for two years regarding stadium access violations.