Friday 23 October 2015 13:56, UK
UEFA's disciplinary case against Manchester City has been branded as "ludicrous" by their supporters club.
City fans booed the UEFA Champions League anthem ahead of Wednesdays' clash against Sevilla at the Etihad Stadium.
Their behaviour was subsequently reported by UEFA match officials and City have been charged with "disruption of competition anthem" - with the case set to be judged on November 19.
Sky Sports understand the club will not be punished too severely - especially as it is not the first time the anthem has been booed by City's fans.
However, the formal complaint has still stunned Kevin Parker, general secretary of the Manchester City Supporters Club, and he told Sky Sports: "I honestly thought it was a wind-up, I thought it was a joke.
"People think the booing of the Champions League anthem is down to Financial Fair Play [City were fined £49m 18 months ago for breaching UEFA Financial Fair Play rules] and that might have a slight impact on it, but the real issue we have with UEFA centres around the decision towards the end of 2014 when, quite rightly, they closed the CSKA Stadium because of ongoing racism by the CSKA fans.
"Unfortunately, by the time they made that decision many City fans had paid for their flights, accommodation and visas, and were committed to going to Moscow.
"City went to UEFA to ask for concessions to allow City fans into the stadium as they were not the ones who should be being punished. UEFA said no. City then said 'Well, you fined CSKA Moscow, so from that fine can you compensate the City fans so that they're not out of pocket financially?'
"UEFA said no. To make matters worse when the game did take place there were about a 1,000 local fans inside the stadium supporting CSKA Moscow under the banner of UEFA guests."
Parker added: "UEFA seem to want to target Manchester City for some reason, and this whole booing thing didn't just happen on Wednesday night, we've been booing this UEFA anthem since the day after that game in Moscow, so that's October 2014.
"It also seems laughable that they want to bring this charge against us now, when it's been happening in five, six or seven Champions League games.
"They're quoting article 16 of the UEFA charter. I think they'll find that article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights allows people to have freedom of expression. I think I know which one carries a bit more weight in court. It just seems like a ludicrous situation."
Manchester City fans next face a short trip to neighbours United for the Super Sunday showdown.
Parker said: "We'll be going to Old Trafford to watch the derby. When United read out their team, all the City fans will be booing… when they read out the City team, all the United fans will be booing.
"Imagine the FA bringing a charge for supporters booing the announcement of the opposition's team. It's almost as laughable as that."
Watch the Manchester derby live on Sky Sports as part of Super Sunday - coverage from Old Trafford starts at 2pm, or watch without a contract on NOW TV.
