UEFA has initiated an investigation into four Real Madrid players—Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Antonio Rudiger, and Dani Ceballos—following allegations of “indecent conduct” during their Champions League last-16 victory over Atletico Madrid. The European football governing body announced on Thursday that a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to examine the claims, which could lead to sanctions ahead of Real Madrid’s quarter-final first-leg match against Arsenal on April 8.
The investigation stems from the Spanish giants’ dramatic penalty shoot-out win against Atletico Madrid on March 12 at the Metropolitano Stadium. The match, which ended a 2-2 aggregate draw, saw Real Madrid, the record 15-time Champions League winners and current title holders, advance after a contentious conclusion. Spanish media outlets have reported that the focus of UEFA’s scrutiny is the players’ celebrations following the victory, though specific details of the alleged misconduct remain undisclosed.
The shoot-out itself was marred by controversy when Atletico’s Julian Alvarez had a penalty ruled out. Officials determined that Alvarez had touched the ball twice, a decision that sparked outrage among the home side and their supporters. Tensions ran high throughout the night, and UEFA’s probe now threatens to cast a shadow over Real Madrid’s campaign as they prepare to face Arsenal in the next round.
In a brief statement, UEFA confirmed the investigation, saying, “A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct by Real Madrid CF players.” Neither UEFA nor Real Madrid provided further comment when approached by AFP.
The outcome of the investigation could see Mbappe and Vinicius, two of football’s brightest superstar forwards, alongside defender Rudiger and midfielder Ceballos, facing fines or suspensions. With the quarter-final clash looming, the disciplinary proceedings add an extra layer of intrigue to Real Madrid’s pursuit of yet another Champions League title.
More updates are expected as UEFA’s investigation progresses.
