Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has defended the club's supporters' right to boo the Champions League anthem to express their dissatisfaction with European football's governing body.
UEFA launched disciplinary proceedings against City under regulations concerning the "disruption of the competition anthem" after fans jeered while it was played before the Premier League club's 2-1 home win over Sevilla on October 21.
Speaking ahead of the return fixture in Spain on Tuesday, Pellegrini said: "I think everyone has the right to boo and protest. It is important how they do it, but if they think something is wrong, I think everyone has the right to say what they want.
"It is very difficult for me to analyse why they boo and the way they do it, but my general opinion is if they boo, UEFA are not doing something right."
The Chilean's comments come in the wake of club captain Vincent Kompany describing UEFA's investigation as "a joke".
"There is nothing holy about the Champions League anthem," the Belgium defender said. "We have played many games in Europe where there has been racial abuse - we have had to put up with it."
City's fans are frustrated with UEFA over the organisation's decision to play a Champions League match against CSKA Moscow behind closed doors last year because of a series of offences, including racial abuse, from the Russian club's fans.
Supporters who had paid to travel to Moscow for the game were not compensated by UEFA, while some CSKA fans were reported to have attended the fixture.
City supporters have regularly voiced their discontent with the Champions League anthem over the past year. UEFA's disciplinary body will consider the case against City in a hearing on Thursday, November 19.