CSKA Moscow Say Racist Abuse Of Yaya Touré 'Exaggerated'

CSKA Moscow Say Racist Abuse Of Yaya Touré 'Exaggerated'
In this Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2103 photo, Manchester City's Yaya Toure, centre, pointing towards fans speaks to the referee Ovidiu Hategan, unseen, CSKA's Kirill Nababkin, left, and Musa, back to camera, during the Champions League group D soccer match between CSKA Moscow and Manchester City, at Arena Khimki stadium outside Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure called on UEFA to take action against CSKA Moscow after he was subjected to racist chanting
In this Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2103 photo, Manchester City's Yaya Toure, centre, pointing towards fans speaks to the referee Ovidiu Hategan, unseen, CSKA's Kirill Nababkin, left, and Musa, back to camera, during the Champions League group D soccer match between CSKA Moscow and Manchester City, at Arena Khimki stadium outside Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure called on UEFA to take action against CSKA Moscow after he was subjected to racist chanting
AP

CSKA Moscow coach Leonid Slutsky refused to apologise to Yaya Touré and said the racial abuse of the Manchester City midfielder had been "exaggerated".

City midfielder Touré was subjected to monkey chants by a section of CSKA supporters when the two clubs met in the Russian capital a fortnight ago.

Uefa has since ordered CSKA to play their next home match in the competition at a partially closed stadium but the Muscovites have played down the incident.

Touré was also racially abused playing for City at Porto in 2012

Slutsky was repeatedly asked questions about the matter at his to press conference preview the return Group D match between the two clubs at the Etihad Stadium.

A club official tried unsuccessfully to steer the subject matter away from racism before Slutsky finally addressed it.

Slutsky said: "The club is categorically against racism.

"As for the match, we did not hear any racial slurs, so it is difficult to comment. We think the situation has been exaggerated and there was an over-reaction."

Slutsky maintained CSKA were "categorically against racism"

When asked if the club would apologise to Touré, Slutsky said: "I think we have discussed this matter enough already."

Defender Sergei Ignashevich did express regret, but only after sympathising with the CSKA fans who will not be able to attend the Bayern Munich game on November 27 because of the UEFA sanction.

He said: "We are sorry that some of our fans won't be at this game but at the moment we are thinking about the game (against City)."

But when asked further he said: "We are sorry that such an unpleasant incident took place."

Media director Sergei Aksenov interrupted a question of whether the club were concerned about a repeat of such behaviour at Eastlands.

"Let us wait for them to repeat it and then feel sorry for that," he said.

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