UEFA Confirms CSKA Moscow vs. Manchester City to Take Place Behind Closed Doors

UEFA has confirmed CSKA Moscow's Champions League tie with Manchester City will be held behind closed doors. The decision comes after the Russian fans were charged with their third incident of racist abuse across the past year.

CSKA host City on Tuesday but won't have their appeal heard until Oct. 27, which was reported by Jamie Jackson of The Guardian. This means the Arena Khimki will play host to zero supporters during the crucial European tie between Group E's two winless sides.

UEFA previously confirmed CSKA away fans are also banned from the reverse fixture on Nov. 5, according to BBC Sport. General manager Roman Babaev confirmed the club is prepared to take its appeal beyond the realms of UEFA if needed, saying (per Sky Sports), "In case they dismiss our appeal we're ready to address our complaint to the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne."

Ivan Sekretarev/Associated Press

The governing body issued CSKA a €200,000 fine and ordered the complete stadium closure after the side's recent 5-1 loss to Roma. UEFA delivered the charge after observing the "racist behaviour of supporters, crowd disturbance, (and the) setting off/throwing of fireworks and missiles," as noted by Sky Sports.

Such an occurrence was CSKA's third across 12 months. Yaya Toure experienced racist chanting during City's last visit to Russia in November 2013, which led to a partial stadium closure. The midfielder, per BBC Sport, said he was "furious" after the match and indicated UEFA "has to take action because players with the same colour of skin will always be in the same position."

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Despite CSKA's decision to publicly deny Toure's claims, the overseeing organisation took action. Michael Sanadze, deputy media manager at the Russian club, insisted "nothing special happened" and "nobody else, other than Yaya Toure" heard the monkey chants, a quote reported by Sky Sports.

Just three months later, CSKA's supporters were once again in the headlines for reportedly committing further racist acts. Another €50,000 fine and stadium closure proceeded after fans produced "multiple racist and far-right symbols" during the side's trip to face Czech side Viktoria Plzen, per BBC Sport.

Bayern Munich's recent trip to face CSKA was also played behind closed doors, as reported by Kieran Gill of the Daily Mail. The lack of atmosphere certainly caused a potentially exciting match to lose its edge, as the play of both sides slowed with the lack of intensity.

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Manuel Pellegrini is worried this may affect his team, who cannot afford to drop any more points if it wishes to challenge Bayern's grip on the group. The Chilean manager believes there is "no advantage" to playing in front of empty seats, per Jackson, and wanted his team to utilise the crowd's enthusiasm as fuel to win the match.

CSKA, however, will likely hope the non-event feeling can suck the life out of their visitors.

Neither side can afford to pass up three points at this stage. City have just one to their name so far, while CSKA are yet to register and already have a goal difference of minus-five after two games. Pellegrini's men should be looking to beat the group's weakest team by any means possible in Moscow before turning on the style during the Etihad return.