UEFA has officially announced the opening of an investigation into a possible breach of its Disciplinary Regulations by Real Madrid players following their quarter-final qualification at the Metropolitano Stadium in the Champions League round-of-16. The European governing body is focusing its scrutiny on Antonio Rüdiger, Kylian Mbappé, Dani Ceballos, and Vinícius Júnior, who were central to the post-match celebrations.
Allegations Under Investigation
The investigation will examine specific incidents involving the four players:
Antonio Rüdiger: The German defender is under review for making a controversial gesture by placing his hand around his neck.
Kylian Mbappé: The French star is accused of making an indecent gesture by touching his genitals during the celebrations.
Vinícius Júnior: The Brazilian forward is facing allegations of provoking the crowd both before and after the match.
Dani Ceballos: Although less prominently mentioned, his enthusiastic post-match conduct is also under UEFA’s examination.
Reports in Spain indicate that Atlético de Madrid filed a formal complaint against the behavior of the Real Madrid players.
UEFA’s Official Statement
In a formal announcement, UEFA stated:
“A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct by Real Madrid CF players (Antonio Rüdiger, Kylian Mbappé, Daniel Ceballos Fernández, and Vinícius Júnior) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 match between Club Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid CF on 12 March 2025. Further information on this matter will be provided in due course.”