CSKA Moscow has filed an appeal against the UEFA ruling that will force the red and blue play the next five matches without supporters following the incidents involving their fans in Italy.

      Russia’s reigning champions were penalized by UEFA for their fans’ racist and violent behaviour during the away game against Roma on September 17, 2014.

      CSKA suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat in away match against Italy’s Roma in the Champions League Group Stage. The blue and red side was shaken off their feet within the first 20 minutes by Roma’s overpowering offensives. The team lost four goals in the first half, then scored an own goal but was still able to sweet the pill.

      According to the media and blogs, the crushing defeat revealed serious gaps in the defense line and the lack of cool by the goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev, who played at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and made two blunders that left Russia out of the Last 16.

      Disappointed with the outcome, supporters started throwing “fireworks and missiles”. They also took part in brawls inside and outside the stadium.

      17 fans were reported to have been arrested, with some of them later given suspended sentenced and banned to visit the Schengen zone countries for the next five years.

      CSKA will now have to pay a fine of 200,000 euros, play their next three UEFA competition home games behind closed doors and refrain from selling “tickets to their fans for the next two UEFA Champions League group stage games which the club will play as the visiting side.”