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Hosts responsible for CSKA FC fans’ appearance during match with Manchester City — UEFA

UEFA imposed in early October a set of sanctions against CSKA Moscow over its fans’ behavior during the club’s match against AS Roma in September

MOSCOW, November 7. /TASS/. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) will not initiate any disciplinary measures after CSKA Moscow FC fans appeared at a stadium during their club’s away match against Manchester City FC on November 5, UEFA’s press service told TASS.

UEFA imposed in early October a set of sanctions against CSKA Moscow over its fans’ behavior during the club’s match against AS Roma in September with one of the penalties stipulating a ban for CSKA fans at stadiums during the club’s two visiting matches of the Champions League group stage.

During the Champions League Group E match, which was held at the Etihad Stadium and ended 2-1 in favor of the Russian side, about 30 fans of the Moscow club were spotted present in the stands despite UEFA’s ban. The fans strongly reacted after their club scored the second goal and then were asked to leave the stadium.

“The hosting side, which is Manchester City in this case, is responsible for everything that happens inside the stadium,” the press service said. “It also goes for the removal of fans from the stadium.”

“The CSKA fans we are talking about came to the stadium using tickets, which were not distributed by the Moscow club. Therefore, there will be no disciplinary measures,” the press service added.

CSKA Director General Roman Babayev voiced similar opinion to the one of UEFA on Thursday saying that it was solely Manchaster City’s responsibility if CSKA fans were present during the match.

“We know nothing about this. Even if it did take place, the club has nothing to do with it. It is because the tickets were distributed by the club from Manchester, and even if our fans did get there [to the stadium] it is the problem of the hosting side,” Babayev said.

Two weeks ago CSKA Moscow hosted Manchester United in Moscow and the Group E encounter ended with 2-2 draw. The match on the night of October of 21 was held at the Arena-Khimki in front of empty stands for spectators due UEFA’ imposed penalties on the Moscow football club.

On October 3, UEFA ordered CSKA to play its next three UEFA competition home matches behind closed doors. In addition the club was fined 200,000 euros (over $253,000). UEFA also announced that the club was “banned from selling tickets to their fans for the next two UEFA Champions League group stage games, which the club will play as the visiting side.”

The Russian club filed an appeal and last week UEFA partially upheld the motion from CSKA and softened its penalties against the Moscow football club.

CSKA were ordered to play their next three UEFA competition matches as host club behind closed doors. The latest is suspended for a probationary period of five years,” the statement from the UEFA Appeals Body said on Tuesday last week. 

The statement also said, however, that “CSKA remain banned from selling tickets to their fans for the next two UEFA Champions League group stage games which the club will play as the visiting side.”

The match against AS Roma, which ended with CSKA’s crushing 1-5 defeat, was held on September 17 in the Italian capital. CSKA Moscow’s fans began casting flares starting after the 71st minute of the match and also attempted to force their way to another sector of the stadium from the one, where they were seated.

The Russian club’s fans also entered a scuffle with AS Roma fans before the match but police managed to disperse the fighting parties. Two of CSKA fans were detained by police before the game and 15 more after the match.

UEFA also accused CSKA fans of unfolding a banner during the match that allegedly contained a race-hate instigation statement.

UEFA’s October 3 set of penalties followed previous sanctions against CSKA as the club was earlier ordered by UEFA to play its Champions League’s Group E match against Bayern Munich FC in late September in empty arena in Moscow. UEFA’s order was issued following CSKA’s fans poor behavior last December during the match against Viktoria Plzen FC.