MOSCOW, November 2 (R-Sport) – Manchester City has limited ticket sales to fans of CSKA Moscow for Tuesday's Champions League clash in Manchester after the Union of European Football Associations punished the Russians for racist abuse by its fans at the last game, CSKA has said.
After City midfielder Yaya Toure complained of monkey chants by CSKA fans, UEFA hit the Russian champions this week with a partial stadium ban at their next home Champions League game against Bayern Munich on November 28.
With City to host CSKA on Tuesday, the club and police have decided to prevent CSKA fans from buying tickets at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium, the Russians said. CSKA fans will only be able to acquire tickets through their club in Moscow.
“CSKA has repeatedly appealed to Manchester City with a request to organize ticket sales for the away sectors for fans of our team who live abroad, and very much regrets that this decision was taken, which it was impossible to influence,” CSKA said in a statement.
“We ask fans who are heading to England without match tickets to take into account the fact that they will not be able to acquire tickets there for the away sector.”
CSKA fans were able to buy tickets at the club’s offices until Friday evening at a cost of 33 pounds ($52.50). Fans are being asked to pay the exact amount in sterling in the Russian capital, the club said.
There was no immediate response from either Manchester City or Greater Manchester Police.
Police in Britain have wide-ranging powers to impose conditions on away fans when they fear trouble at a game, including forcing fans to travel only by certain routes in so-called “bubble” arrangements.
