• Champions League

City's match at CSKA Moscow will be behind closed doors

ESPN staff
October 16, 2014
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini had previously said that playing in an empty stadium will not help his side © Getty Images
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Manchester City's Champions League clash at CSKA Moscow on Tuesday will still be played behind closed doors as the Russian club's appeal to UEFA over their three-game stadium ban will not be heard until October 27.

CSKA were ordered to play their next three home European matches in an empty stadium as punishment for racist behaviour by their fans during the 5-1 defeat against Roma last month.

After 70 minutes of the game at the Stadio Olimpico, supporters let off flares and threw them in the direction of home supporters, while they also unfurled racist banners.

CSKA have decided to appeal the punishment, and UEFA confirmed to The Guardian on Thursday the date of the hearing.

"October 27 - the match [against Manchester City] will be behind closed doors," a spokesman said.

The decision will come as bad news for City boss Manuel Pellegrini, who has previously said that playing in an empty stadium will not help his side.

It is a vital clash for the Premier League champions, having only claimed one point from their first two Group E matches after losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich and drawing 1-1 with Roma.

CSKA, who have been hit with three charges of racism in under a year, were also banned by UEFA from selling tickets to supporters for the return fixture at City on November 5 and fined €200,000 for their fans' behaviour.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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