UEFA Reduces CSKA Moscow Stadium Ban Despite Vincent Kompany Complaint

Vincent Kompany recently called on UEFA to take further action against CSKA Moscow after 650 supporters appeared inside the Arena Khimki for Manchester City's Champions League visit, despite the fact they were supposed to observing a full stadium closure due to three separate racism charges.

Latest Update from Thursday, Oct. 28

UEFA has reduced the penalty handed down to CSKA for three separate rule breaches related to racism. CSKA had been instructed to play three matches behind closed doors, but that punishment has been tamed in a UEFA statement provided by Kris Voakes of Goal.com:

CSKA's appeal has partially been upheld. Therefore the original decision of the Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body is modified as follows:

CSKA have been ordered to play their next three Uefa competition matches as host club behind closed doors. The latest is suspended for a probationary period of five years.

The Russian team has also been fined €100,000.

Previous Update:

City have been angered by UEFA's response to Kompany's complaint regarding the 650 'supporters' who were present at their Champions League game. The governing body opted not to punish CSKA, who were meant to impose a full stadium closure.

Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail reports:

A City source said last night: ‘We feel this is wrong and a complete injustice. It’s unfair that in a game that is supposed to be played in an empty stadium, the home club have 300 fans singing and cheering them on and we don’t have any. To us, that’s not a punishment.’

UEFA chief of press, Pedro Pinto, earlier stated, per Ladyman:

I think the club has already been penalised a lot, less than three per cent of the stadium capacity was in attendance. The club isn’t getting gate receipts and the players aren’t getting any meaningful support.

If we say it’s behind closed doors, then it’s supposed to be behind closed doors to the general public, but there are always tickets given to VIPs, UEFA staff and sponsors. 

Original Article from Wednesday, Oct. 22

UEFA will investigate Vincent Kompany's complaint that CSKA Moscow fans made it into the Arena Khimki during Tuesday's Champions League draw with Manchester City, despite a full closure being enforced on the Russian stadium after a string of racism charges.

Harry Reekie of CNN reported the governing body's intentions:

As reported by BBC Sport, "despite the ban, a group of vocal CSKA supporters watched from the main stand." Although an allocation of 650 people were allowed into the stadium—with 300 tickets reserved for sponsors and dignitaries—many appeared to be vocal CSKA fans.

Sky Sports previously indicated UEFA has "little control" over who takes the aforementioned tickets.

The report read: "Of the rest of the tickets, each club receives 75 for their own delegates, 50 are given to the children involved in the pre-match ceremony and their parents, while there are also 150 for media."

CSKA media director Sergey Aksenov dismissed claims the club had done anything wrong, per the Sky Sports report, saying: "Those people you are talking about are 360 people from the UEFA Champions club - partners, sponsors. If they are CSKA fans, they are good for us. Everyone is invited by UEFA, not CSKA."

Football writer Robbie Dunne posted an image from The Guardian's coverage on Twitter, highlighting the CSKA presence in the stands:

Kompany was outspoken in his annoyance after the match, per Mark Ogden of the Daily Telegraph (subscription required): 

You say 'No fans' then all of a sudden you turn up and basically the only team that hasn't got fans is Man City. So who's getting punished? Who is being done for racism? Man City or Moscow, you know? I don't have a problem, they will say it's sponsors and so on and they need to give certain allocations, but why are we getting punished?

It appeared particularly harsh that sanctions brought on CSKA affected the plans of away supporters. Many had booked tickets, travel and hotels from England to Russia ahead of UEFA's closure ruling. City fans were effectively punished for the three separate racism charges CSKA received over the last 12 months, per BBC Sport.

Sunday Times football correspondent Jonathan Northcroft thinks the City skipper is entitled to air his irritation:

As reported by the Daily Mirror, and tweeted via 101 Great Goals, some fans went to extreme lengths to watch the contest:

UEFA appears to have failed to think through the logistics of its full-closure procedure. This charge should exclusively link to the offending team, not those going about their business in the correct manner. City's support was limited to those on the bench, while CSKA certainly possessed audible encouragement from those in the stands, something which could be heard live on television.

CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky is reported to have answered "I don't know" when asked about the situation. It is perhaps telling the response was said to have been met with laughter and an applause from the Russian media, per Sky Sports.

On the pitch, City took a 2-0 lead in the tie through goals from Sergio Aguero and James Milner, before Seydou Doumbia and a Bibras Natkho penalty restored parity to share the points. A soft foul led to the second goal, confirming a disappointing night for the visitors, who remain winless after three matches in this year's group stage.

It is likely that the side's inability to maintain their lead provided Kompany with greater infuriation when discussing the stadium situation, but the Belgian skipper has every right to complain. UEFA's investigation suggests a lack of communication has allowed the supposedly "behind closed doors" match to sneak a portion of CSKA supporters in.

While it is entirely conceivable UEFA-invited guests would support the club, it is unlikely esteemed visitors or families would unfurl flags and loudly chant in unison to aid the team's comeback. UEFA's response will be interesting to see, especially as the problem may be partially down to the organisation's incompetence.

Ultimately, it's the result that matters, with both sides failing to grasp their first win of the European season. While Kompany and City will feel unfairly treated in the short term, it's the 2-2 scoreline which could leave lasting damage for the Etihad side.