Champions League: Toure rage as City Euro win is tainted by racist chants
CSKA MOSCOW 1 vs MANCHESTER CITY 2
MANCHESTER City captain Yaya Toure urged European chiefs to throw the book at CSKA Moscow last night after he complained of racist abuse from the stands in yesterday’s Champions League victory in Russia.
Two poacher’s finishes from Sergio Aguero, which took the Argentina striker’s tally to eight in six games, saw City come from behind to strengthen their chances of progressing from Group D.
But the night was soured by the barracking of Toure, which the Ivory Coast midfielder reported to referee Ovidiu Hategan and could land CSKA Moscow with a stadium closure.
Under new rules introduced this season, governing body Uefa has vowed to impose partial and ultimately full stadium closures on clubs whose supporters hurl racial abuse players.
“If Uefa don’t take action it will continue,” he said. “It’s always the same. I hope they will change it, I hope they will get a big sanction, because you have to ban them at some stage.
“It was a few times when I went to the goal and I missed, and after some fans reacted badly. But it’s always the same. The banners say ‘No to racism, blah blah blah’. They have to stop it now. I hope Uefa will take action.”
City are thought to have complained to Uefa’s match delegate at the Arena Khimki, while the referee is also expected to include Toure’s complaints in his report.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini indicated he had not heard the chants towards Toure but said: “It is a pity and I hope we have the right measures.”
Pellegrini was also upset at the state of the pitch, on which CSKA had not played since August, although his grievance was diluted by a result that leaves City three points clear in second.
Victory looked far from likely when former Manchester United winger Zoran Tosic punished the visitors’ early wastefulness by lobbing Joe Hart in the 32nd minute.
Seconds later, however, Aguero gathered David Silva’s cross with his first touch and prodded level with his second. And three minutes before half-time he headed home Alvaro Negredo’s outside-of-the-boot cross. Hart made amends for recent slips by denying Keisuke Honda in injury time.