CSKA Moscow have denied that racist chants took place during the Champions League game against Manchester City on Wednesday night despite claims made by Yaya Touré.
City midfielder Touré said CSKA fans aimed monkey chants at him during his side’s 2-1 win but referee Ovidiu Hategan did not take any action.
The Russian club have issued a statement saying that they are surprised by Touré’s claims.
“Having carefully studied the video of the game, we found no racist insults from fans of CSKA,” it read.
“In many occasions, especially during attacks on our goal, fans booed and whistled to put pressure on rival players, regardless of their race.
“In particular, this happened with Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko. Why the Ivorian midfielder took it as all being directed at him is not clear.”
City have made a formal complaint to European football’s governing body UEFA, who are waiting on reports from the game’s referee and match delegates before taking any action.
Lord Ouseley, chairman of the Kick It Out campaign, told the BBC that such abuse had been tolerated for too long and that referee Hategan failed to do his duty during the match.
“UEFA and (world governing body) FIFA take us for mugs. That can’t go on any longer,” he said.
With furore already surrounding the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics due to the so-called ‘anti-gay law’, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Maria Miller wants the racism accusation taken seriously by UEFA.
“When countries like Russia are going to be very shortly hosting the World Cup [in 2018], it’s important we know a tough line is going to be taken,” she told the BBC.
Image courtesy of Sky Sports via YouTube, with thanks.
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