Manchester City are to play their Champions League group match at CSKA Moscow behind closed doors.
On Friday Uefa announced that the Russian champions will take on City in an empty Luzhniki Stadium as a sanction following disturbances involving the Russian club’s fans at Roma a fortnight ago. City travel to Moscow on 21 October for a third Champions League group match that must be won after claiming only a point from their opening two games.
A number of incidents occurred during CSKA’s opening Group E match at Roma, which the Russian side lost 5-1, last month. Flares were thrown on to the pitch, scuffles broke out in the stands and a banner containing a racial slur was also unfurled.
CSKA have already been punished twice over incidences of racism by Uefa in the past year.
Last year’s Champions League match against City at the Khimki Arena was overshadowed by racist chanting aimed at Yaya Touré. They were hit with a partial stadium closure but a repeat offence led to Tuesday’s game against Bayern Munich being played behind closed doors.
The City manager Manuel Pellegrini was against playing in an empty stadium, however. He said: “My personal thinking is football should always be with fans. I don’t think it is good to play in an empty stadium, not good for anyone.
“I understand a local team have a little [problem] with their fans but all the people deserve to go to the stadium. I don’t know what will happen.”
A stadium closure could have implications for City supporters planning to travel but the club themselves have not sold any tickets or official packages for the fixture.
