Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Dani Ceballos and Vinicius Junior have avoided a suspension for Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal following a UEFA investigation into alleged indecent conduct.
Mbappe and Rudiger have both been fined and given one-game bans, suspended for one year, for “violating the basic rules of decent conduct” following March’s last-16 victory over Atletico Madrid. The ban does not come into immediate effect and is subject to a one-year probation period.
Ceballos has also been fined for the same offence, while UEFA did not open disciplinary proceedings into Vinicius Jr and he has not been sanctioned.
Rudiger has been fined €40,000 ($43,000), Mbappe €30,000 ($32,900) and Ceballos €20,000 ($21,900). Madrid intend to appeal the sanctions.
All four players will now be available for the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Arsenal at the Emirates on April 8.
UEFA announced in March it was investigating the conduct of Rudiger, Mbappe, Ceballos and Vinicius Jr after the quartet were alleged to have made gestures towards Atletico supporters following Madrid’s penalty shootout victory over their city rivals at the Metropolitano stadium.
The allegations related to the aftermath of the shootout, with mass celebrations following Rudiger’s winning penalty.
Photos appeared to show Rudiger making an alleged throat-slitting gesture in the direction of the home crowd while on the pitch. Footage appeared to show Ceballos making an alleged obscene gesture as he headed down the tunnel, while Mbappe is alleged to have made a lewd gesture as he departed the pitch.
The second leg of the last 16 tie between Madrid and Atletico went to penalties after finishing 2-2 on aggregate, with Madrid winning the shootout 4-3.
(Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
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