In a week when the organisation’s president has been suspended from all football-related activities, Uefa have demonstrated where its priorities lie, by charging Manchester City after the club’s supporters booed the Champions League anthem prior to Wednesday’s win over Sevilla.
Uefa has issued a statement confirming it had opened disciplinary proceedings against the Premier league club.
“Please note that the incident was reported by the match officials therefore a case was opened,” read the statement.
“This does not necessarily mean that a sanction will be imposed.”
The case will be dealt with by Uefa’s control, ethics and disciplinary body on 19 November.
City supporters have long booed the anthem to express their annoyance with European football’s governing body, and in particular the £50 million fine imposed on the club due to their breaking of financial fair play regulations.
It has become traditional at the Etihad Stadium to boo the Champions League anthem when it is played prior to kick-off – as was the case against Sevilla on Wednesday (see below).
https://twitter.com/BPLZone/status/643858831529902081?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
But, according to reports, Uefa are planning to charge the club or breaching regulations.
Article 16 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations states that:
…all associations and clubs are liable for the following inappropriate behaviour on the part of their supporters and may be subject to disciplinary measures and directives even if they can prove the absence of any negligence in relation to the organisation of the match:
…
g) the disruption of national or competition anthems.”
So, there you have it.
