No Bayern protest against UEFA fan ban for CL quarters away leg

Jan-Christian Dreesen, CEO of FC Bayern Munich, gives an interview before the start of the UEFA Champions League Group A soccer match between Bayern Munich and Galatasaray Istanbul at the Allianz Arena. Bayern Munich will be without fans in their Champions League quarter-final away leg as the Bundesliga club said on Tuesday they will not appeal the sanction imposed by the ruling body UEFA. Tom Weller/dpa

Bayern Munich will be without fans in their Champions League quarter-final away leg as the Bundesliga club said on Tuesday they will not appeal the sanction imposed by the ruling body UEFA.

The sanction came after Bayern fans had again this season set off pyrotechnics in the away leg of their last 16 tie at Italy's Lazio in February.

"We have to accept this punishment," Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said in a club statement.

"Not only were pyrotechnics set off, but also fired deliberately onto 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."

Six-time European champions Bayern beat Lazio 4-1 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals, which along with the semi-finals are drawn on Friday.