What changed
Manchester City supporters booed the Premier League anthem before the home match against Ipswich, then did the same before Tuesday’s Champions League game against AEK Athens. The reaction was louder than usual at the first home match after City were found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.
Why it matters
The boos have become part of the Etihad’s pre-match soundtrack. Their roots stretch back to the announcement of 115 charges in February 2023, and to earlier disputes with both the Premier League and UEFA.
For City supporters, the anthem now represents the institutions judging their club. UEFA has fined City over past Financial Fair Play breaches, while the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a two-year European ban in 2020. That history helps explain why the noise is aimed at the competition itself, not the players walking onto the pitch.
The latest verdict leaves supporters waiting for the appeal and any sanctions. The protest does not appear to have been formally coordinated, but its persistence gives the dispute a visible soundtrack while City continue their perfect seven-match league start.
Next comes Aston Villa away on Saturday at 12:30 BST.
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