In Nyon, Switzerland, UEFA announced on Thursday that four Real Madrid players are under investigation for alleged “indecent conduct” during a Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. The spotlight is on players Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Antonio Rüdiger, and Dani Ceballos for their actions during the round of 16 game that took place on March 12.
UEFA has appointed a disciplinary inspector to delve into the unspecified allegations. Social media buzzed with video clips showing Mbappé grabbing his crotch in a celebratory gesture following Real Madrid’s penalty shootout victory.
Should any bans be imposed, the players could be sidelined for Madrid’s upcoming quarterfinal clash against Arsenal on April 8. The victory over Atletico secured Madrid’s advancement to the quarterfinals, with Rüdiger playing a pivotal role by scoring the decisive penalty kick and subsequently leading his teammates in an exuberant celebration on Atletico’s home turf.
This incident echoes a similar case from the European Championship last year, where Jude Bellingham, another Real Madrid player, was involved. Bellingham received a one-game ban, suspended for a year, after making an indecent gesture following a goal for England in a game against Slovakia. His gesture led to a finding of violation of decent conduct rules, resulting in a fine of 30,000 euros ($32,400).
Madrid is now under scrutiny, as these developments unfold with potential disciplinary actions looming over some of their key players. The disciplinary process will determine how this situation impacts Madrid’s future matches, particularly their strategy as they move forward in the Champions League.