European football’s governing body, UEFA has confirmed that it is waiting for the official match report before deciding whether to open an investigation as to the melee that transpired before and after the full time whistle in Atletico Madrid’s Champions League quarter final second leg meeting with Manchester City.
(Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Spanish club Atletico Madrid could face UEFA action as a result of the series of flashpoints that marred their Champions League game against Manchester City on Wednesday night at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Tempers flaired up towards the end of the game which ended goalless as Manchester City it was, who progressed to the final four of the competition after their 1-0 win in England in the first leg appeared enough to see them eliminate their Spanish opponent.
The game at the Metropolitano produced nine bookings in the final ten minutes including a second yellow for Brazilian defender, Felipe for catching Foden on his follow-through after a clearance. The defender however did not walk off quietly but vent his frustrations on the referee.
(Photo by Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Felipe was earlier involved in an incidence in the first half which left City midfielder, Phil Foden needing treatment on his head due to a really strong challenge from the defender that earned him a first yellow.
The challenge late in the second half started the melee as City players could no longer hold the treatment from their host, when Savic, who was a former Manchester City player tried to bully Foden to get up after Felipe’s challenge.
Savic did not stop at that but continued as he attempts a headbutt at Raheem Sterling and pull the hair of Jack Grealish, who was not on the pitch during the same incident, but both the on-field officials and the VAR opted not to dismiss the Atletico centre-back.
Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone was also among those who entered the referee’s book for entering onto the pitch while trying to calm Stefan Savic.
The ugly scenes continued even after the final whistle, with footage showing tempers continued to boil as the players headed into the tunnel.
Atletico defender, Sime Vrsaljko, who was an unused Atletico substitute, was seen going violent on Aymeric Laporte by throwing a bottle in the direction of the City defender, while police reportedly rushed in to calm the scene.
Referee Daniel Siebert only issued one red card on the night, more punishment could follow, with now UEFA saying it will wait to receive reports from the referee and match delegate before deciding whether to open disciplinary proceedings.
European football’s governing body could appoint an ethics and disciplinary inspector to fully investigate what happened and should that be, Atletico Madrid will surely bear much of the brunt as they were obviously the violent one on the night.
Players like Felipe, Stefab Savic and Sime Vrsaljko will be centre of UEFA’s investigation, while City’s duo of Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling might also have some cases to answer.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
