Manchester City could face fresh sanction from Uefa after crowd trouble erupted during their Champions League group game against Celtic on Tuesday night.
Fighting broke out among several supporters in the 73rd minute of the 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium before being contained by a heavy security presence. The trouble occurred in the lower tier of the home section closest to Celtic’s fans and is likely to prompt an investigation by European football’s governing body, who last season fined Manchester United £44,342 and Liverpool £43,577 for disturbances during their Europa League meeting at Old Trafford.
There were reports that 13 people were arrested in total. Earlier, Greater Manchester police confirmed a Celtic fan had been arrested in Piccadilly Gardens for throwing a hamburger at a police horse.
Uefa’s control, ethics and disciplinary body may also take unkindly to City supporters once again booing the Champions League anthem before kick-off. The club was fined over the same incident last season, although no such draconian action has been taken when the anthem has been booed during this campaign.
Celtic took an early lead at the Etihad with a fine goal from Patrick Roberts, the 19-year-old who is on loan at the Scottish champions from City, before Kelechi Iheanacho levelled in a frenetic opening to the game. Pep Guardiola, the City manager, said he was aware of Roberts' talent, despite the teenager making only three brief appearances for the club since arriving from Fulham in an £11m deal in 2015.
“We know his quality. He has good qualities as a winger, one on one, he works defensively,” said Guardiola. “He has good potential. We try to help our young players play every single week to see how they are going to develop. Then in the end you have to take a decision. If we are going to try to fight with the big clubs in Europe, to do that is not easy. Young players have to play regularly.”
Roberts will return to City when his loan deal expires at Celtic next summer. Their manager, Brendan Rodgers, believes the England under-20 international has the ability required to make the grade at the Etihad.
“It can’t have been easy for him playing against his parent club but he handled it well,” said Rodgers. “He showed he is in the right place at this moment in his career. It is no good him sitting on the bench and not playing. It is great that Manchester City allowed him to come to us. He is a top young English talent.
“He has the quality to fit in at City, no doubt about that. I am sure he will come back here in the summer and Pep and his staff will have a real look at him. They will be encouraged. He is a young English talent and I’m sure there will be a big career for him.”
(Guardian service)
