Eindhoven football club PSV is refusing to give the Spanish authorities the names of fans who threw money at beggars ahead of the club’s March tie against Atlético Madrid.

The club says it has dealt with the matter internally by giving the four worst offenders a stadium ban of up to three years and is ‘finished with the issue’.

Director Toon Gerbrands told the Eindhovens Dagblad the club was astonished to receive an official letter from the Spanish public prosecution department in mid-October, seven months after the incident caused an international outcry.

‘We have given everyone the opportunity to ask us for information for months,’ Gerbrands said. ‘But we heard nothing and were left alone to investigate the incident and decide what do.’

Those responsible have been given a tough talking too and banned from the PSV stadium, he said. ‘It would not be opportune to reopen the case and punish those involved a second time,’ he said.

Sports minister Edith Schippers said later PSV should hand over the names of those involved.

The two sides will meet again in Spain on November 23 as part of the Champions League competition.