Uefa relents: Manchester City escape punishment for fans booing Champions League anthem
Manchester City have escaped punishment after Uefa opened disciplinary proceedings into their fans booing the Champions League anthem.
A match delegate reported the crowd's hostile response to Uefa for review following their match with Sevilla at the Etihad Stadium last month.
Disciplinary proceedings were subsequently opened, triggering much derision and condemnation including from captain Vincent Kompany who called it a "joke".
Uefa has since decided not to take the issue any further. A spokesperson said: "It is confirmed that the Uefa control, ethics and disciplinary body has decided to close the disciplinary proceedings."
The Champions League anthem is played before every fixture, yet has been met by boos from City fans who have been angered by financial fair play fines imposed on the club, as well as the perceived double standard in allowing hundreds of CSKA Moscow fans to watch a fixture against their team that was supposed to be behind closed doors.
Uefa's decision to let the matter lie was expected after the organisation's general secretary Gianni Infantino said two weeks ago that it had to "not be offended by it, live with it and make things always better and try to prove and show people what is down in our heart is football basically".