Why Manchester City fans are protesting against Uefa in the Champions League

City fans say that their complaint is not with the Champions League but with Uefa itself. But how has it go to the point where it is so bad Pep Guardiola has to step in?

Sergio Aguero celebrates during a Champions league match for Manchester City (Getty)

April 2012

Manchester City played a Europa League match at Porto in February 2012, where Mario Balotelli was racially abused by Porto fans. Porto were eventually fined just €20,000 by Uefa. City’s anger was worsened when they were fined more, €30,000, for being one minute late for the second half of a Europa League game at Sporting Lisbon that same season.

October 2013

Yaya Toure said that he was “furious” after being racially abused by CSKA Moscow fans during City’s 2-1 win at CSKA Moscow. “I'm very, very disappointed about what those fans have done,” Toure said. “I think Uefa has to take action because players with the same colour of skin will always be in the same position.” This led to CSKA Moscow having to play one game with a partially closed stadium.

May 2014

City were handed a conditional £49m fine by Uefa for breaking their Financial Fair Play rules. Manuel Pellegrini’s team also had to accept a restriction in their Champions League squad from 25 players to 21, as well as caps on maximum losses, wages and transfer spending.

October 2014

Manchester City return to CSKA Moscow, to play at Arena Khimki, a game meant to be held behind closed doors because of CSKA's repeated racism. But while no City fans are sold tickets, roughly 200 CSKA fans still made it into the 2-2 draw, thanks to sponsors, to the fury of Manchester City. “Why can we not bring our fans”, asked Vincent Kompany afterwards.

November 2015

Uefa opened a case against Manchester City fans for their usual booing of the Uefa anthem at their win over Sevilla, but closed the case after public outcry against the decision. For City's next Champions League game at home, the fans brought printed banners saying 'Boo' instead.