Manchester City Escape UEFA Punishment After Fans Booed Champions League Anthem

Manchester City have escaped sanctioning from UEFA after their fans booed the Champions League anthem at the Etihad Stadium ahead of Oct. 21's 2-1 victory over Sevilla.

The Press Association's Martyn Ziegler reported UEFA's decision on Friday:

Sky Sports News HQ initially reported that European football's governing body had opened disciplinary proceedings against the Sky Blues.

Booing the Champions League anthem has become something of a tradition for City fans. It is their way of showing their displeasure at UEFA and the way they run European football, per BPL Zone:

"

Manchester City fans boo the Champions League anthem. https://t.co/H3FfbmmOWD

— BPLZone (@BPLZone) September 15, 2015"

City's grievances with UEFA include a £50 million fine handed down to them for breaching financial fair play rules.

As Martin Samuel of the MailOnline noted, "It has been a tradition to boo throughout—as a protest against [Michel] Platini's financial fair play rules." He also branded the initial charge as "absurd [and] unprecedented—in essence a curb on the freedom of speech and protest at football matches."

However, Article 16 (g) of UEFA's disciplinary regulations (via the European Club Association) does specifically state it is a club's responsibility to prevent the disruption of anthems, per the Manchester Evening News' Stuart Brennan:

They have clearly decided in this instance, though, not to punish City.

City have struggled in the Champions League in the past, but they have already confirmed their place in the knockout stages of this season's competition.

They sit top of Group D after four matches, their last clash returning an impressive 3-1 away victory against Sevilla.

Manuel Pellegrini's men face Juventus next up on Nov. 25, and they will go into the clash without the spectre of a UEFA sanction hanging over them.