CSKA preparing defence against ´exaggerated´ Toure claims

CSKA Moscow are preparing a legal defence against claims their fans racially abused Yaya Toure, according to the club’s general director.

Manchester City midfielder Toure was alleged to have been targeted by sections of the CSKA support during his side’s 2-1 UEFA Champions League win over the Russian outfit on Wednesday.

City have since complained to UEFA regarding the apparent taunting, although CSKA have vehemently denied that any racist abuse took place.

And general director Roman Babayev insists that the incident has been exaggerated.

“We are preparing a legal argument,” Babayev is quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.

“We’re not denying the problem of racism on the whole, including at Russian stadiums, but in this case it seems that the situation is exaggerated.

“The match delegate didn’t hear any outburst of racism toward Yaya Toure and so, of course, didn’t document any during the course of the match.”

Babayev also criticised the British media for raising “hysteria” around the incident.

“The British do constantly try to find any reason to smear Russian football,” he added.

“It is totally possible that in this case we’re running into this same intention.

“I read the main English publications and they are raising a real hysteria. They are writing that the fans wanted to almost lynch the dark-skinned players on the field. And most journalists probably didn’t even watch the match.”