Manchester City Fans Can Attend Kyiv Away Game After UEFA Lift Ban

​UEFA have cut short Dynamo Kyiv’s stadium ban, meaning that Manchester City fans will be allowed to attend this month’s Champions League tie at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium. 


The organisation had initially leveled a three-match ban at the Ukrainian club after black fans were beaten up in the stadium during a match against Chelsea earlier in the season, but the punishment has been cut on appeal. 


The ​Manchester Evening News report that the steps put in place to combat the issues in the stadium by the club impressed UEFA officials enough for the ban to be cut from three games to one, which was already served during December’s group match against Maccabi Tel-Aviv. 

As well as showing their progress in solving the racism and violence issues, the club pointed out that the particular fans responsible in the October incident had already been punished criminally, with two-year suspended prison sentences. 

The situation looked like being a familiar one for City fans until Tuesday’s decision, having been unable to travel to a match against CSKA Moscow last season when a similar stadium ban was imposed on the Russian club. 

CSKA had their ban cut from three games to two on appeal in that case, but the reduction made little difference to City, who traveled to Russia to play in the first game of the ban. Fans were angered by the situation – with many questioning why they were being punished for the wrongdoing of their opponents’ fans. 

​City midfielder Fernandinho had said when the round of 16 draw was made: “I think the fact we are playing in Kyiv in an empty stadium is a shame. I’ve played a few times in stadiums where the fans have been banned and it’s just not the same. We need to concentrate and focus on the job on the night.


“Most of us have been professionals for 10 years or more and always play in front of good crowds, so to walk out to an empty, silent stadium is tough. To me, it’s all about focus and concentration levels have to be high and we have to make sure we return home with a good result.”

​For more from Chris when he’s not writing on 90min, follow him on Twitter at @ThatChris1209!

Don’t miss out – subscribe to the 90min podcast – now on iTunes HERE and back on SoundCloud over here!


Open all references in tabs: [1 – 5]