Real Madrid fear that Antonio Rudiger will be banned for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Arsenal, but his teammates are likely to escape suspensions.
MADRID, SPAIN: Antonio Ruediger of Real Madrid looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between Real Madrid C.F. and Atletico de Madrid on March 04, 2025. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images
Marca report that Real Madrid will learn the outcome of UEFA’s disciplinary case against them on Friday, with Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Dani Ceballos, and Antonio Rudiger all being investigated for the nature of their post-match celebrations.
According to the report, Vinicius, Mbappe, and Ceballos are all likely to receive a fine. It’s possible they’ll also get a suspended one-match ban, which would only come into effect if similar behaviour is repeated within a set period of time – usually a year.
But Rudiger’s case is different. His throat-cutting gesture hasn’t been well received, and a ban is more likely for him. Marca suggest that his participation in the upcoming tie against Arsenal is in doubt.
MADRID, SPAIN: Antonio Ruediger of Real Madrid celebrates victory after Real Madrid defeat Atletico de Madrid in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 second leg match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid C.F. at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on March 12, 2025. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
A ban is certainly far from guaranteed, Marca claim Rudiger could also just get a fine and a deferred suspension. But it’s less clear than in the cases of the other three.
Carlo Ancelotti previously responded confidently when asked about UEFA’s investigation into his players.
“We believe everything was correct and we hope UEFA makes a decision, but we trust that everything will end well,” Ancelotti said.
“We are confident in UEFA’s verdict as the players had just celebrated, that’s it, we wait for verdict, but our players didn’t do anything wrong.”
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 12: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrates in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 second leg match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid C.F. at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on March 12, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Mbappe is perhaps the least likely to receive a ban, given the history of punishment for similar incidents to his crotch-grabbing celebration.
In 2019, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone turned towards fans and grabbed his crotch in celebration against Juventus. The incident was caught on camera and Simeone was fined €20,000, but he didn’t receive a touchline ban.
Jude Bellingham was also fined and given a one-match suspended ban for his own crotch-grabbing gesture during Euro 2024 last year. But as he hasn’t repeated the offence, that suspended ban has never come into effect.
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