AEK, Ajax charged by UEFA over Champions League crowd trouble

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Ajax Amsterdam - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - November 27, 2018 Ajax's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in action with AEK Athens' Giorgos Giakoumakis REUTERS/Costas Baltas

(Reuters) - AEK Athens and Ajax Amsterdam have been charged by UEFA over the crowd trouble that marred their Champions League Group E match in Athens on Tuesday, European soccer's governing body has said.

Riot police clashed with Ajax fans in the Olympic Stadium before the match and some supporters had blood pouring down their faces, while flares were also thrown inside the stadium.

The UEFA charges facing AEK include a pitch invasion by their fans, the throwing of objects, setting off of fireworks, insufficient organisation and the display of an illicit banner.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Ajax Amsterdam - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - November 27, 2018 Ajax's Dusan Tadic celebrates after the match REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Ajax have been charged with setting off fireworks and the throwing of objects by their supporters.

The governing body's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will deal with the case on Dec. 13.

Former European champions Ajax beat AEK 2-0 to reach the knockout rounds of the continent's elite club competition, while AEK were eliminated from Europe after a fifth straight defeat.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Ajax Amsterdam - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - November 27, 2018 General view of Ajax fans after the match REUTERS/Costas Baltas

(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Ajax Amsterdam - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - November 27, 2018 General view of an Ajax fan reacting after clashing with riot ploice in the stadium before the match REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Ajax Amsterdam - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - November 27, 2018 General view of riot police clashing with Ajax fans in the stadium before the match REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Ajax Amsterdam - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - November 27, 2018 General view of riot police clashing with Ajax fans in the stadium before the match REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Ajax Amsterdam - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - November 27, 2018 General view of riot police clashing with Ajax fans in the stadium before the match REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Ajax Amsterdam - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - November 27, 2018 General view of riot police clashing with Ajax fans in the stadium before the match REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Ajax Amsterdam - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - November 27, 2018 Ajax's Maximilian Wober, Frenkie de Jong and team mates celebrate at the end of the match as AEK Athens' Marios Oikonomou looks dejected REUTERS/Costas Baltas