Pellegrini hopes Russians learn from Toure abuse

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini hopes the punishment handed down to CSKA Moscow for the racist abuse of Yaya Toure will serve as a warning ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. European football governing body UEFA has ruled CSKA must play their next home Champions League match in a partly closed stadium after their fans were found guilty of aiming racist monkey chants at Youre during City's 2-1 group win last month. Toure was so angered by the incident he suggested black players might boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia as a protest measure. Pellegrini, speaking ahead of Tuesday's return tie in Manchester, said: "The fans of CSKA made an important mistake. "The club, I don't know why they denied it at the beginning or what their reaction is now but UEFA acted and gave them the punishment they deserve," the Chilean added. "I hope we can leave it in the past and it will be an example for Russian fans because they have a World Cup in their country." City defender Pablo Zabaleta said that he hoped UEFA did not let up in their bringing to book clubs whose fans chant racist abuse. "Obviously what happened in Moscow was really hard for Yaya. "We are all behind him and any time we see something like that we try to help the players. "Hopefully UEFA is always on it. As players we can do nothing, we just need to give a massive support to the black players when they have some problems like that." Meanwhile Pellegrini insisted Ivory Coast international Toure would not be distracted by the furore surrounding a match where victory should see City into the last 16. "I think Yaya is an experienced player. "What happened in Russia, maybe he can't forget, but tomorrow (Tuesday) is a special match for him, not because of that but because Manchester City can go to the next stage of the Champions League. "I think he will only be thinking about football." Source: AFP