UEFA has imposed small fines on both Manchester City and Chelsea following incidents during their Champions League quarter-final ties.
Manchester City has been fined €5,250 after fans lit fireworks and threw objects during their match against Bayern Munich, while Bayern Munich themselves received a fine of €8,250 for object throwing in the second leg.
Chelsea, on the other hand, has been fined €4,000 for an invasion of the field of play during their loss to Real Madrid.
Are the fines a warning to other clubs?
These fines are part of UEFA’s efforts to maintain discipline and safety during matches, ensuring that players and officials are protected.
In addition to City and Chelsea, Sevilla and Belgian club Gent have also been penalized for various offenses during their Europa League matches.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, expressed his frustration over the scheduling of their game against Everton, which had to be moved to Sunday due to police resources being allocated to the Eurovision song contest in Liverpool.
Guardiola lamented the lack of time to prepare for their crucial Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, but acknowledged the need to adapt to the situation.
He mentioned that he no longer wants to fight over scheduling issues, understanding that the Premier League’s schedule takes precedence.
While Guardiola would have preferred more time to prepare for their European encounter, he acknowledged the benefit of an extra day’s rest for the Premier League match against Everton.
Despite the challenges, Guardiola remains focused on adapting and preparing his team to the best of his abilities.
These fines serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining order and respect within the game, and teams like Manchester City and Chelsea will have to be vigilant in ensuring fan behavior and adherence to regulations in future matches.