UEFA bosses have decided that the recent goalless draw between Manchester City and Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final will have to be replayed.
A spokesman for UEFA said this was due to Cristiano Ronaldo not playing since he was sidelined with an injury. This caused a significant drop in revenue for the broadcasting companies and sponsors, who have demanded a rematch, which they are entitled to under their terms of contract. He also cited the lack of goals, which is unacceptable to a US audience.
0-0 was a good result for Pellegrini's men, for whom a score draw at the Bernabeu would have sufficed in order to secure a place in the final. The news is likely to go down particularly badly with City fans, who already feel they have been unfairly treated by UEFA in the past.
A spokesman for the Manchester City supporters group told Footballs Today it was an outrage that private companies had the power to intervene in the natural course of a football match, and that fans would stage a mass boycott of the rematch.
UEFA head office in Switzerland issued a statement in reply: "A hardcore minority of hooligans well known to Interpol is intent on disrupting this event, which has been demanded by the overwhelming majority of the viewing public. These hooligans have shaved heads and when they drink, they start shouting rubbish out loud. We urge fans of both teams to respect the public's democratic right to be entertained."
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