In this Wednesday photo, Manchester City's Yaya Toure (C) pointing toward fans speaks to the referee Ovidiu Hategan (unseen), CSKA's Kirill Nababkin (L) and Musa (back to camera) during their Champions League match at Arena Khimki Stadium outside Moscow Wednesday. — AP LONDON — The British media was united in its condemnation of the racist chants directed toward Manchester City's Ivorian international Yaya Toure during the side's Champions League match against CSKA Moscow in the Russian capital Wednesday. The incident was particularly embarrassing for UEFA, which had declared this week as ‘Football Against Racism in Europe Action Week' and responded by issuing a short statement saying it was “waiting for the report from match officials” Thursday. However, despite all captains wearing anti-racism armbands during this round of fixtures and the exchanging of pennants declaring “No To Racism” and “Respect,” the message appears to have been lost on some CSKA Moscow fans. CSKA officials questioned Toure's allegation he was taunted by racist chants, saying they did not hear the shouts and that he was too quick to get angry over the incident. “We didn't hear any shouts from the stands that Toure spoke of,” CSKA Director General Roman Babayev said, according to state-run news agency Itar-Tass. Thursday's Daily Mirror headline echoed Toure's post-match comments, proclaiming “Shut Them Down” after the midfielder called on European soccer's governing body to close the stadium perhaps for “a couple of years” until the problem is eradicated. The Times observed that Toure knew exactly what was being chanted at him as he was a fluent Russian speaker following his time playing in Ukraine. Toure said he told Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan what was happening 10 minutes into the second half, shortly after he had been fouled by a CSKA player. Injured Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany offered support for his teammate when he issued a plea to UEFA and the Russian government. “Racist chanting again in Moscow today. We've all said enough. @UEFA.com, @GovernmentRF, CSKA all eyes are on you now.. #StopRacism,” he tweeted. — Agencies
