Manchester City has said it will make a formal complaint to UEFA about the racist chanting endured by its players during City’s 2-1 win away to CSKA Moscow in Champions League Group D play onWednesday. In May, UEFA announced that racist chanting from supporters would lead to a partial stadium closure for the first offense and a full stadium closure for a second, coupled with a fine of50,000 euros ($69,000).
After the game, Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure, who captained City in the absence of the injured Vincent Kompany, revealed thathe spoke with referee Ovidiu Hategan about the chants, but the referee chose to do nothing. “I’m not just disappointed, I’m furious,” Toure said. “For me, as captain, I was wearing anarmband which said ‘no to racism’ and I was totally disappointed. I told the referee. It was unbelievable and very sad.”
When asked what action he would like UEFA to take, Toure said: “Maybethey could ban the stadium, I don’t know, for a couple of years or a couple of months. We have to be as strong as possible otherwise they will continue like that. Too much is too much. We have to stopit now.”
Meanwhile, Lord Ouseley, chairman of the British activist group Kick it Out, said Hategan shouldn’tbe allowed to referee again for failing to deal with the racist abuse.