Manchester City supporters are expected to boo the Champions League anthem once again when the team host Paris Saint-Germain at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. The ritual dates back to the 2011-12 season and has been reinforced by a series of disputes between the club and UEFA.
Origins of the booing
The tension began during the 2011-12 season when Porto fans racially abused Manchester City's Mario Balotelli, resulting in a relatively small £16,700 (€20,000) fine for the Portuguese club. In contrast, City were subsequently fined a harsher £24,740 (€30,000) for returning to the pitch 30 seconds late for the second half of a game against Sporting CP, which led supporters to boo the iconic pre-match Champions League anthem.
City fans' feelings towards UEFA escalated significantly when the governing body found Manchester City in breach of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations in 2014. City were hit with a £49million fine, as well as having limits imposed on their transfer spending and a restricted Champions League squad size, which many fans felt was an unfair attempt to hinder their rapid growth.
Stadium ban and investigation
UEFA ordered a Champions League match against CSKA Moscow to be played behind closed doors as a punishment for racist behaviour by the Russian club's fans. However, City supporters who had paid for flights and visas were also locked out, adding to the ill feeling towards UEFA.
Relations hit a new low when UEFA launched an investigation into City's FFP compliance in 2019, which initially led to a European ban, which was later overturned in July 2020. Although the club successfully fought the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the ordeal cemented the fans' frustration towards the organisation.
Recent charges and next match
Five of the 115 charges brought against City by the Premier League related to failing to comply with UEFA's FFP limits between the 2013/14 and 2017/18 seasons. The Premier League's rulebook requires member clubs to adhere to UEFA's regulations, meaning UEFA-related breaches also constitute a violation of Premier League rules.
In September, an independent commission found City guilty of 114 of the 115 charges, including five breaches of UEFA's regulations, though the club have appealed the verdict. The team are set to return to Champions League action against Paris Saint-Germain at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, with City supporters likely to once again boo the pre-match anthem.
