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UEFA have issued a pitiful punishment to Spartak Moscow for the sickening racist abuse suffered by Liverpool Academy winger Bobby Adekanye.

The Reds put in a complaint to the governing body after the 18-year-old was subjected to monkey chants by a section of Spartak fans during last month’s UEFA Youth League clash in Russia.

UEFA subsequently charged Spartak who have now been told they must partially close their Academy stadium for their next UEFA Youth League fixture by leaving at least 500 seats empty.

Spartak have also been ordered by UEFA to “display a banner with the wording ‘#EqualGame’ with the UEFA logo on it” to cover the section of the stadium which isn’t in use.

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It’s hardly likely to act as a deterrent as the stands at their Academy were far from full for the youth game anyway.

Adekayne was subjected to racist chants and gestures after coming off the bench for the final half hour of the Reds’ 2-1 defeat. Liverpool Academy director Alex Inglethorpe, under-23s boss Neil Critchley and under-18s manager Steven Gerrard were all present in Moscow and were appalled by the treatment of the youngster who joined the club from Barcelona in 2015.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Spartak have also been punished by UEFA for “illicit banners and chants, setting off of fireworks, and blocking of stairways” at the Champions League clash with Liverpool. They were fined a total of 33,000 Euros.

The Russian champions have already been banned from selling tickets for the away match at Seville on November 1 after a flare was fired onto the pitch in their draw with Maribor.