April 13 – Atlético Madrid will play their second leg Champions League quarter final against Manchester City tonight in front of a full Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
Atlético won an urgent request at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a stay on a UEFA sanction of a partial stadium closure (a reduction of at least 5,000 seats) for alleged racist behaviour of its fans (Nazi salutes) and the throwing of objects in the first leg of the tie on April 5 in Manchester.
Atlético have challenged the UEFA sanction at CAS, but because they had already sold the stadium out and with fears over security at the match with ticketed supporters being refused entry, asked CAS for a stay.
CAS agreed to the stay saying it had taken into consideration “the serious repercussions to local security if the partial stadium closure had to be enforced at this late stage.”
However, CAS said the partial closure of Atlético’s stadium will be automatically lifted after the match tonight and hence applicable for either the semi-final (if Atlético progress) or their next fixture in European competition.
Knutsen loses appeal
FK Bodø/Glimt head coach, Kjetil Knutsen, has lost his appeal against his suspension from the next UEFA club competition matches.
Knutsen was provisionally suspended by UEFA along with Roma goalkeeper coach Nuno Santos following an altercation between the pair following last week’s European Conference league match.
Bodø/Glimt claimed they had video evidence of Roma’s support staff, including Santos, attacking Knutsen.
The second leg of the tie will be played in Rome on Thursday (April 14).
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