Fans of Swiss club Young Boys banned from Europa League game for violence at Aston Villa

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Fans of Swiss soccer club Young Boys were banned from a Europa League game on Thursday as punishment for violence that halted play at Aston Villa last week.

Young Boys fans threw plastic bottles that struck Villa goal scorer Donyell Malen and clashed with stadium security staff during their team’s 2-1 loss on Nov. 27. Play was stopped for about five minutes in the first half.

UEFA said its disciplinary judges imposed a 50,000 euros ($58,000) fine on Young Boys and banned the club from selling tickets to fans for its next away game in the Europa League.

Young Boys plays at Stuttgart on Jan. 29 in the final round of league phase games.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Young Boys' fans cause trouble during the Europa League soccer match between Aston Villa and Young Boys in Birmingham, England, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

Aston Villa's Donyell Malen reacts after being hit with an object from the away fans during the Europa League soccer match between Aston Villa and Young Boys in Birmingham, England, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

Young Boys' fans react as Aston Villa's Donyell Malen, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Europa League soccer match between Aston Villa and Young Boys in Birmingham, England, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

A Young Boys fan is escorted from the stadium by police during the Europa League soccer match between Aston Villa and Young Boys in Birmingham, England, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Bryan Torres homered, Jordan Walker hit an RBI double and the St. Louis Cardinals scored on two errors in the eighth inning to rally past the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Sunday to sweep the series.

Victor Scott II dribbled a sacrifice bunt to Reds pitcher Sam Moll that he threw past the third baseman to score Alec Buleson and give St. Louis a 4-3 lead. Iván Herrera reached on a fielding error by shortstop Matt McLain soon after, adding an insurance run.

Walker got the Cardinals on the board with his one-run single in the fifth before Torres hammered his second-career home run over the right-field wall for St. Louis' first lead of the game at 3-2. Both of Torres' homers have come against the Reds.

Ryne Stanek (2-0) threw the final two outs of the eighth inning and struck out one. Riley O’Brien earned his 17th save of the season in a scoreless ninth.

McLain and Tyler Stephenson hit back-to-back solo home runs in the third inning to put the Reds ahead 2-0 early. McLain homered again in the seventh to tie the game 3-3. It was his third home run in two days and his second career multi-homer game.

Moll (1-5) allowed two runs on two hits without recording an out for the Reds, while Chris Paddack blew his first save of the season. Rhett Lowder made his first start off the IL for the Reds and threw 3.0 innings, walking five and striking out four.

The Reds have lost eight of their last 10 games and have dropped four straight. After starting the season 20-11, they have gone 11-22 since. They are 2-13 in the NL Central.

Cincinnati: LHP Andrew Abbott (4-3, 4.06 ERA) takes the mound for the Reds in the opening game of a series against the Padres on Monday.

St. Louis: The Cardinals have yet to announce a starter for their series opener against the Mets on Tuesday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds' Matt McLain (9) is congratulated by manager Terry Francona, right, after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against St. Louis Cardinals Sunday, June 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jose Fermin, left, celebrates as he runs in to score on a throwing error by Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sam Moll (50) during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals' Nelson Velazquez celebrates after hitting a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against Cincinnati Reds Sunday, June 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals' Bryan Torres celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against Cincinnati Reds Sunday, June 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)