Champions League: Liverpool charged by UEFA over Man City bus incident
According to various reports, Liverpool have been hit with four charges by UEFA. The European football governing body have opened disciplinary proceedings over the incidents surrounding Wednesday’s tie.
Manchester City’s team bus was pelted with missiles as it arrived at Anfield for the first leg in the Champions League quarter finals. The attack saw windows being broken by glass bottles, flares, and a host of objects thrown at the coach by the raucous crowd.
Thankfully, neither the players nor staff were seriously injured by Liverpool supporters. The damage done to the visitors’ bus was very severe.
A replacement bus was needed to take Pep Guardiola’s men home after the game. Fortunately the game went ahead as planned and brought forth a promising result for the Reds on the night of all the mayhem.
City bus arrives at Anfield. A few cans, flares and bottles thrown at it. The smashed bottle (which you can see towards the end of the vid) nearly landed on my head, which would’ve served me right tbf pic.twitter.com/NgMep0LAhP
— Sam Lee (@SamLee) April 4, 2018
Liverpool issued a public apology even before the game. After Man City suffered a shock 3-0 defeat at Anfield, Pep Guardiola was quick to criticize the behaviour of the supporters.
"“Normally when the police know that is going to happen, they try to avoid it happening. I did not expect that from the Liverpool side, from the people.“The bus is destroyed. I didn’t expect that a club as prestigious as Liverpool would do these kind of things. Of course, it is not Liverpool, it is the people – it was not only one, only two, only three. Hopefully it doesn’t happen again.“"
UEFA’s statement on the incident
UEFA has now taken action by charging Liverpool with four disciplinary breaches, two of which relate to the bus incident. The charges included four breaches of discipline, including throwing objects, acts of damage and crowd disturbances.
A statement from the European governing body, via Eurosport, read:
"“Disciplinary proceedings have been opened following the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC (3-0) played on 4 April in England.”"
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Charges against Liverpool FC as per reports:
Setting off of fireworks – Article 16 (2) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR)
Throwing of objects – Art. 16 (2) DR
Acts of damage – Art. 16 (2) DR
Crowd disturbances – Art. 16 (2) DR
"“The charges of acts of damage and crowd disturbances related to incidents involving the Manchester City FC team bus. This case will be dealt with by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on 31 May.”"
The case will not be heard until 31 May – after the Champions League final – meaning any sanctions would only apply next season.