UEFA has launched an investigation into four Real Madrid players, including Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, over allegations of “indecent conduct” during their Champions League last-16 victory against Atletico Madrid.
The probe also targets defender Antonio Rudiger and midfielder Dani Ceballos, with all four players potentially facing disciplinary action ahead of Madrid’s quarter-final first-leg encounter against Arsenal on April 8.
“A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct by Real Madrid CF players,” said the European football governing body in a statement.
According to reports from the Spanish media, UEFA is closely examining the behavior of Real Madrid players during their post-match celebrations.
✨KM✨ pic.twitter.com/9yvTz7y1DP
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 24, 2025
Both UEFA and Real Madrid have yet to respond to AFP’s request for comment on the matter.
Madrid, the record 15-time Champions League winners and defending titleholders, secured their victory over Atletico Madrid in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Metropolitano Stadium on March 12, following a 2-2 aggregate scoreline.
However, the match ended in controversy when Atletico’s Julian Alvarez had his penalty ruled out due to an alleged double touch, a decision that sparked heated debate
Kylian Mbappe faced disciplinary scrutiny during a Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille on September 13, 2020. He was investigated for unsportsmanlike conduct after provoking opponents following a goal.
Vinicius Junior has been under disciplinary probes in the past, particularly in connection with incidents of racial abuse during matches. A notable instance occurred on May 21, 2023, in a La Liga game between Real Madrid and Valencia, where he confronted fans and criticized the league’s handling of racism.