Sport

CSKA hit with partial closure

UEFA has imposed a partial stadium closure on CSKA Moscow following the racist behaviour of their fans, the European governing body has announced.

The Russian club's supporters were found guilty of racially abusing Manchester City's Yaya Toure (above) during the Champions League game between the two clubs at the Arena Khimki last week.

The sanction will apply to CSKA's next home match in the competition, against Bayern Munich on November 27, and will see section D of the stadium - where the offence occurred - closed.

In a separate development, Uefa has also relieved its venue director from that evening of his duties for failing make an announcement calling for the abuse to stop. Referee Ovidiu Hategan has been cleared of any blame as to why that did not happen.

Toure complained to Hategan that he was being subjected to monkey chants from some supporters early in the second half of the Group D fixture, which City won 2-1. CSKA later vehemently denied Toure's claims but Uefa ruled against them following a private hearing of its control and disciplinary body at headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Under new regulations, introduced this summer, this punishment can be followed by a full stadium closure for a second offence. Sanctions for third offence include match forfeitures, points deductions and even disqualification from a competition.