Football
Bayern Munich accept UEFA punishment ahead of Champions League quarter-final
Bayern Munich will play the away leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie without fans after supporter unrest during the last 16 clash with Lazio.
Earlier this year, Bayern were fined and hit with a two-year suspended sentence after fans set off fireworks during the group stage clash with Copenhagen, but the Lazio Game was also marred by similar events as fireworks were thrown on to the pitch.
Having breached the terms of their probation by repeating the behaviour, Bayern have accepted a ban for their away fans in the next round of the comPetition.
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said: "We have to accept this punishment. Not only were pyrotechnics set off, but also fired deliberately on to the field, directly endangering bystanders. This was such an explicit violation of the conditions of probation that an appeal is unfortunately futile."
"In general we're very happy that we're in the quarter-finals, but the fact we now have to play away without the support of our fans is a big blow. A small group of individual offenders have done a disservice to all our supporters and the team. However, I am confident that our team will find a way to deliver the top performance that will be needed in the quarter-finals."
After losing the first leg 1-0 away at Lazio, reports suggested manager Thomas Tuchel, who will leave the club in the summer, could be sacked immediately if he failed to lead the club into the last eight of the Champions League.
Needing a big response, Bayern roared to a 3-0 victory in the return fixture, with Harry Kane netting either side of a Thomas Muller flick to seal what was ultimately a routine path into the next round.
Bayern will learn their quarter-final opponent in Friday's draw once all the last 16 ties have been played.
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