May 13, (THEWILL) – Manchester City had been fined €14,000 by UEFA for their players’ “improper conduct” during the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.
The quarter-final match between City and Atletico was a tense encounter, with Pep Guardiola’s team emerging victorious.
Kevin De Bruyne’s goal in the 69th minute of the first leg at the Etihad Stadium was enough to secure the triumph over two legs, but it was the second half in the Spanish capital that provided the most of the talking points.
With the tie equal at 0-0, Manchester City leading 1-0 on aggregate and Atletico Madrid pouring on the pressure late in the game, a large brawl broke out between both sets of players, initiated by Stefan Savic of the home side.
While both sets of players appeared to be involved in multiple altercations, Savic appeared to be fighting Manchester City’s Jack Grealish for a lengthy time before attempting to headbutt Raheem Sterling.
The confrontation continued into the tunnel, with film later emerging of Atletico Madrid defender Sime Vrsaljko spitting at Manchester City players and attempting to engage in violent altercations.
Following a meeting of UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on May 2nd, a decision was reached on the sanctions that Manchester City will be served. The final decision stated that there would be no fines or sanctions imposed on Atletico Madrid.
Manchester City failed to progress in their 2021/2022 Champions League campaign beyond the quarter-finals stage.
A dramatic 4-3 first-leg triumph over Real Madrid in the first leg was not enough to secure a blockbuster Paris final versus Liverpool, as Carlo Ancelotti’s side defeated Guardiola’s charges 3-1 in the second leg, advancing to the final on a 6-5 aggregate score.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
