Kompany Slams UEFA Over CSKA Crowd Presence Despite Closed-Door Sanction
By BBC Sport | Football – Europe
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has openly criticised UEFA after approximately 350 CSKA Moscow supporters were present during Tuesday night’s Champions League clash in Russia, despite the game being officially held behind closed doors.
The fixture at the Khimki Arena was meant to be played without spectators, following UEFA-imposed sanctions on CSKA Moscow for previous incidents of racist behaviour among their fans. However, a significant number of home supporters were seen in the stands, sparking outrage from City’s captain.
Speaking to The Guardian, Kompany expressed his frustration:
“Who was punished for racism — Man City or Moscow?” he asked pointedly. “If you want to play fair and square, then City’s sponsors should’ve had the right to attend too. Why on earth didn’t we have any fans present? What did our fans do wrong?”
According to reports, UEFA had allocated 350 tickets to CSKA sponsors — a standard practice — but many of those tickets appear to have been passed on or sold to home supporters. Witnesses described visible drunkenness in the section, with one individual reportedly falling during half-time due to excessive alcohol consumption.
Kompany was quick to clarify that he wasn’t using the situation as an excuse for City’s underwhelming 2-2 draw but insisted on the principle of fairness.
“It didn’t affect our overall performance, but when you come out of a match with a result like that, you can’t hide your frustration. I’m not looking for excuses, but rules should apply equally to both teams.”
Manchester City have since filed an official complaint with UEFA, calling into question the enforcement of the closed-door policy and the legitimacy of those in attendance. The European governing body has launched a review into the allocation of the tickets and the apparent presence of CSKA supporters.
This incident adds another layer of controversy to CSKA Moscow’s European campaign, as the club already faces repeated scrutiny for crowd-related infractions. For City, who are struggling to assert themselves in a tough Champions League group, the sense of injustice will linger.
UEFA is yet to release a formal statement regarding the investigation’s outcome, but pressure is mounting for clarity and consistent application of its disciplinary measures.
