November 20 – Manchester City will not face UEFA sanctions for their fans booing the Champions League anthem.
City’s fans have regularly booed the anthem, angered by financial fair play sanctions against the club. Last season a City fans group protested after 650 CSKA Moscow supporters gained access to their stadium for a Champions League game, despite the Russian club being ordered to play it behind closed doors for racism offences.
The current case reported to UEFA was for booing of UEFA’s anthem at last month’s home win over Seville. UEFA decided not to take any action.
The decision isn’t a surprise, in fact it is more of a surprise that UEFA had considered taking action. UEFA’s general secretary Gianni Infantino said two weeks ago that fans that there was an over-sensitivity to this issue.
“They are booing their team, they are booing opponents, they are booing the UEFA Champions League anthem,” he said.
“We have to not be offended by it, live with it and to make things always better and try to prove and show people what is down in our heart is football basically.”
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