Ajax Fined £21,000 for Fans' Actions During Champions League Match vs. Celtic

UEFA has levied a £21,000 fine on Dutch club Ajax after improper conduct, which included the display of an offensive banner, during the side's Champions League match against Celtic last week.

Sky Sports passed along word of the punishment:

Problems arose leading up to the key Champions League encounter with clashes in Amsterdam. Reuters reported via The Guardian that eight officers received treatment and more than a dozen fans were arrested during the violence before the match.

Two days after the 1-0 Ajax victory, BBC revealed the club and its fans were under investigation due to a banner that was reported by UEFA security officials at the match. The report includes evidence of the incident.    

Neil Lennon said the issues were caused by rowdy Ajax supporters:

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon said he is disappointed but not surprised by the violent scenes surrounding Wednesday's Champions League match in Amsterdam, given what he called the "culture of Ajax fans."

"If there was a reaction from Celtic fans, it was because there was immense provocation in the first place," said Lennon.

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With the investigation into the matter apparently complete, the governing body of European football decided a fine was the best course of action. It's not the only matter the club is being forced to deal with right now, either.

The BBC report states Ajax are also in the middle of another disciplinary case dating back to how their fans acted last month in the first meeting with Celtic in Glasgow. The outcome of that case is expected later in the month.

Ajax and Celtic are both currently outside the top two in Group H behind Barcelona and AC Milan with two matches left in group play. The third-place club, a spot held by Ajax after their triumph amid the fan chaos, would move to the Europa League.

The clubs will not meet each other again in the stage.