By Chris Wright
It was 4am on Thursday morning, and nothing was stirring, not even a mouse – with the CSKA Moscow players sleeping soundly in their hotel beds, dreaming sweet dreams in lilting, pastel shades about merrily trouncing AIK in the Europa League play-off the next day.
Meanwhile, a group of fans of the Swedish club were silently flocking outside – armed with whistles, flares and fireworks…
Whatever the plan was, it didn’t work. CSKA won the game 0-1 and the police are now investigating the incident and searching for the AIK fans involved.
CSKA’s Swedish midfielder Pontus Wernbloom told the Aftonbladet newspaper that the team ‘woke up, but there was no danger.’
AIK denied involvement and moved to condemn the behaviour of their supporters, releasing the following statement on their official website:
“At the moment we do not know who the people responsible for these actions are, but a police investigation has been started.
“Moreover, AIK has set up an internal investigation to find out what AIK could have done to prevent things like this from happening. According to UEFA rules, AIK is responsible for the opposing team’s safety.”
While we’re on the subject, we imagine all the other guests in the hotel were absolutely friggin’ chuffed with all hell breaking loose in the carpark at sparrow fart in the morning.