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Liverpool issue complaint to UEFA over alleged racist abuse aimed at Bobby Adekanye

A general view of a corner flag and the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Stoke City at Anfield
Image: Liverpool have complained to UEFA over alleged racist abuse in Russia

Liverpool have complained to UEFA over alleged racist abuse aimed at teenager Bobby Adekanye in Russia on Tuesday.

The incident happened when 18-year-old Adekanye came on as a second-half substitute in a UEFA Youth League game against Spartak Moscow.

The Nigerian-born player was allegedly subjected to chants and gestures as he entered the game, which preceded the senior side's 1-1 draw in their Champions League Group E clash against Spartak Moscow, which has already seen the Russian side facing new disciplinary charges.

A banner is displayed and flares are set off in the stands during the UEFA Champions League match between Spartak Moscow and Liverpool
Image: A banner was displayed and flares are set off in the stands during the Champions League match between Spartak Moscow and Liverpool

In that game, Spartak fans unveiled a banner which read "UEFA mafia" and let off smoke grenades. The protests come after European's football governing body handed Spartak a sanction following their opening Group E game against Maribor where a flare was fired by one of their fans which nearly hit the referee.

Liverpool's youngsters suffered a 2-1 defeat in the Russian capital, with manager Steven Gerrard left "disappointed" in his side's failure to build on their 4-0 victory over Sevilla last time out.

"The players are disappointed in themselves but if you want to be a big player for this football club, if you are at home to Sevilla you have got to perform, and when it's a more tricky test away from home you've got to stand up and be counted and apply yourself in the same way," Gerrard told Liverpool's official website.

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"The disappointing thing from our point of view is our big players, the exciting players in the front half of the pitch, never really turned up."

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