October 29 – UEFA has reduced on appeal CSKA Moscow’s stadium ban imposed for serious fan trouble at their Champions League match at Roma – but any further outbreaks over the next five years and UEFA will almost certainly come down even harder on the club.
CSKA were originally ordered to play their next three European home games behind closed doors after several incidents including racist behaviour and setting off flares.
The first match at which fans were barred was played last week against Manchester City even though pockets of spectators still managed to get in. The next will be the return game against Roma.
UEFA said the ban now applies to two matches instead of three – with the third suspended. “The latest [of the three matches] is suspended for a probationary period of five years,” it said in a statement.
CSKA also had their fine reduced from €200,000 to €100,000 but the ban on selling tickets for their next two Champions League away games stands.
After the recent game against Manchester City, UEFA said they would be reviewing their policy of handing out behind-closed-doors sanctions to clubs guilty of misbehaviour following complaints that innocent away fans were being unfairly penalised as well.
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