By Andrew Warshaw
October 31 – UEFA has ordered the partial closure of CSKA Moscow’s stadium for their next home Champions League tie as a result of the highly published racist chanting towards Manchester City’s Yaya Toure. The Russian club, which strongly denied the claims, were charged after Toure complained about being verbally abused by a section of the crowd during City’s 2-1 win on 23 October.
A single-tiered section of Arena Khimki will now be closed when CSKA host reigning champions Bayern Munich on 27 November in line with UEFA’s new crackdown on racism introduced in May.
“The fight against racism is a high priority for UEFA,” said a statement that followed a hearing in Switzerland by its control and disciplinary body. “The European governing body has a zero-tolerance policy towards racism and discrimination on the pitch and in the stands.”
In May, UEFA announced that in the case of racist incidents involving spectators, a partial stadium closure would be applied for the first offence and a full stadium closure for a second, coupled with a fine of €50,000. Since then nine clubs have had either all or part of their ground closed.
In the latest case, Toure reported the chanting to the referee during the game and afterwards but no action was taken. He later suggested black players might boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia unless the country tackles racism better.
But before today’s hearing, CSKA said they were “surprised and disappointed” by the Ivory Coast international’s claim and have the right to appeal.
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