Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger have been fined by UEFA for their ‘indecent’ celebrations after Real Madrid’s thrilling victory over Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
Thankfully, neither player will be suspended for the forthcoming quarterfinals.
The European football governing body declared on Friday that Mbappe and Rudiger will each be suspended for one game for “breaching the basic rules of decent conduct.” However, as a probationary step, this suspension will be put on hold for a year.
The penalties stem from the players’ wild celebrations after defeating their longtime rivals in a thrilling penalty shootout on March 12; Real Madrid will play Arsenal in the opening leg of the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Social media users shared pictures of Mbappe making an improper gesture on the field, which aided in the disciplinary procedure.
Mbappe will pay €30,000, and Rudiger has been fined €40,000. Furthermore, Dani Ceballos was given a €20,000 fine, which is less severe than a match suspension. On the other hand, Vinicius Junior, who was also being investigated, came out of the case uncharged.
The 49th UEFA Ordinary Congress, which was hosted by the Football Association of Serbia (FSS), took place in Belgrade this week, making it the center of European football. Presidents and secretaries general from 55 national organizations attended the gathering, which was marked by historic decisions about the future of football in the area.
The election of the FIFA Council and UEFA Executive Committee was a major focus of the meeting. In addition, Aleksander Ceferin, the president of UEFA, highlighted the current situation of European football in his annual report.
Prominent politicians and athletes, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, were among those present. Notably, the UEFA Executive Committee also announced the appointment of Karl-Erik Nilsson, David Gill, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as honorary members.
Aleksander Ceferin’s statement emphasized the fundamental principles of European football—unity, solidarity, and teamwork—amid escalating tensions within the sport.
