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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Chris Slater

'Nazi salute' by Dinamo Zagreb fan being investigated as it emerges 150 seats were ripped out at Etihad

An investigation has been launched into an alleged 'Nazi salute' by a Dinamo Zagreb during their Champions League clash with Manchester City.

It comes as it emerged around 150 seats were ripped out by bad-tempered supporters of the Croatian club.

City faced Dinamo in their second game in the group stage of the competition last night, with the team from the Croatian capital, the country's most successful club, bringing around 1,500 fans.

A rolling roadblock was put in place as they were escorted on foot from the city centre to the ground down Great Ancoats Street.

The club's supporters were boisterous throughout and in a bizarre scene shortly before City scored their first goal a huge swathe of them took their tops off.

However their visit has been marred by allegations of misbehaviour by some of their supporters.

There have been reports of Zagreb fans scuffling with security, spitting, ripping out seats and throwing missiles by Blues fans sitting close to the away section during the game, which City won 2-0.

A City source confirmed today a number of seats, roughly 150, were damaged last night.

(Jack Skelton (Twitter))

Bosses are still assessing the full extent of the damage before taking the matter further.

However any repairs will have to be carried out quickly with Wolves visiting the Etihad in the Premier League on Sunday bringing a full complement of 3,000 visiting fans from the Midlands.

And the Manchester Evening News understands City will look to recoup any costs from Dinamo.

Match in pictures: Manchester City 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb

A video has also emerged of a Zagreb supporter performing what appears to be a Nazi salute.

The man is facing the Blues supporters as he extends his arm into the air.

Jack Skelton, 24, who filmed it, told the M.E.N: "Where we were sat they were mostly fine until Raheem (Sterling) scored and we went 1-0 up.

"Then they just lost the plot a bit.

Dinamo were backed by around 1,500 noisy fans (PA)

"You expect them to turn and their be a bit of back and forth.

"But when we saw the guy doing that we were just completely taken aback and shocked.

"A couple of guys behind us pointed it out and that's when I got my phone out and started filming.

"Apparently there were a couple more doing it but we only saw the one.

"We were underneath the top tier so missed most of it but you could throughout the game pints flying and seats and other stuff being thrown.

"A couple of people I know say they were spat on as well."

City sources say they were appalled at the video of the gesture and say they have launched their own investigation.

They will also be reporting the matter to Greater Manchester Police.

UEFA said their disciplinary body waits for reports from officials before deciding if there had been any breaches of their rules and if any action should be taken.

Dinamo Zagreb have been approached for comment.

Last season around 800 seats were ripped out at Old Trafford by visiting Paris St Germain supporters.

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