Manchester: European football chiefs are considering tightening crowd restrictions after fans apparently made it into CSKA Moscow’s ‘behind closed doors’ Champions League fixture against Manchester City on Tuesday.
Up to 300 people apparently supporting CSKA were in the stadium even though spectators had been banned as punishment for racist incidents involving the club’s fans.
Uefa, European football’s governing body, did not believe there had been a breach of the rules.
Nevertheless, Uefa president Michel Platini is contemplating a “women and children only” scheme after a similar system was put in place in Turkey in 2011 following several incidents of hooliganism involving the Fenerbahce club.
“The president has suggested an idea where instead of having empty stadiums only women and children are allowed into the match,” Uefa chief of press Pedro Pinto was quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News.
“This is just an idea at this stage but Mr Platini is open to discussing it inside Uefa to see if it is better overall for fans and for the image of football.
“The women and children would not have to pay for tickets so the club would still incur a financial penalty.
“This system was used in Turkey to deal with unruly behaviour by fans with great success.”
