UEFA halts ticket sales for Benfica's Europa League match | OneFootball

St. Gallen has been barred by UEFA from selling tickets for the match against Benfica, scheduled for 30 July at the Estádio da Luz. The European governing body’s decision stems from a sanction imposed at the end of 2024, following the use of pyrotechnics by fans of the Swiss club during a Conference League match in Heidenheim, while a previous punishment was still suspended.

The Swiss club was also ordered to pay a fine of 40,000 Swiss francs, and is now also deprived of the possibility of making tickets available to its fans for the trip to Lisbon, for a match that has generated great excitement in Switzerland.

The local press has highlighted the historic significance of the clash. The newspaper Tagblatt underlines the importance of the European showdown, recalling the stature of the Portuguese opponent on the international stage. “Not since Inter Milan in 1985 has St. Gallen faced such a prestigious opponent in European competitions. Benfica, 38-time Portuguese champions!” the daily writes.

Swiss runners-up last season, St. Gallen finished the league 14 points behind champions FC Thun. Although it is not one of the most high-profile names in European football, it is a club with a strong tradition.

Founded on 19 April 1879, it is the oldest club still active in Switzerland and one of the oldest in Europe. Its honours include two Swiss league titles (1902/03 and 1999/2000), two Swiss Cups, one League Cup and four second-division titles.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.