Real Madrid’s victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League has been overshadowed by an investigation into the behavior of four players – Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Dani Ceballos, and Vinicius Junior. The players are accused of ‘indecent conduct’ during the post-match celebrations, with UEFA appointing a special inspector to look into the matter.
The incident occurred after Real Madrid secured a tense penalty shoot-out win over their city rivals, booking a quarter-final clash against Arsenal. The match saw a controversial decision to rule out Julian Alvarez’s penalty for touching the ball twice, adding to the drama of the game.
TV footage captured Rudiger allegedly making a throat-cutting gesture and Mbappe purportedly grabbing his crotch. These actions have sparked outrage and led to the investigation by UEFA, with video evidence expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
In the past, UEFA has imposed fines on players for similar gestures, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Simeone, who were each fined €20,000 for obscene gestures during matches. While the exact sanctions for the Real Madrid players remain uncertain, a fine is considered more likely than a ban.
The timing of the investigation is crucial as Real Madrid prepares to face Arsenal in the quarter-finals. It is unclear if the probe will be concluded before the first leg on April 8 at the Emirates Stadium, with the return leg scheduled for April 16 in Madrid. Despite the investigation, all players, except for Ceballos who is nursing a hamstring injury, are expected to feature in the crucial tie against the Gunners for a spot in the semi-finals.
On the other side, Arsenal has received a boost with Bukayo Saka returning to training after injury. The young star shared a picture of himself back in training, indicating his readiness to rejoin the first team. This development adds to the anticipation and excitement surrounding the upcoming European showdown between the two powerhouse clubs.
