The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) opened, Thursday, March 10, a disciplinary investigation against Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG), its president, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, and its sporting director, Leonardo, because of the behavior of the two leaders after the Parisian elimination against Real Madrid in the eighth Champions League final.
This procedure is based on Article 11 of the disciplinary rules of the body, which relates to the “general principles of conduct”as well as on article 15, which sanctions the “incorrect behavior of players and officials”said a spokesperson to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The two provisions relate in particular to non-compliance “instructions given by the referee” or, more broadly, “unsportsmanlike behavior”and provide for sanctions that can combine match suspension and fine.
” Aggressive behaviour “
According to the report of the match broadcast by the Spanish media on Thursday, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and Leonardo have, the day before, “showed aggressive behavior and tried to enter the referees’ dressing room” after the sinking against Real Madrid (3-1), furious at the validation of the first of Karim Benzema’s three goals.
The Parisian club believes that the center forward of Real committed a foul on the Parisian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, before scoring, without the referees whistling it or checking the images with the video assistance (video assistant referee, VAR).
According to the Spanish press, the UEFA report states:
“When the referee asked them to leave, they blocked the door and the president intentionally knocked the flag of one of the assistants, ending up breaking it. »
According to sports newspapers brand and aceNasser Al-Khelaïfi and Leonardo even entered the locker room of the Real Madrid delegate (responsible in particular for announcing the changes to the referee during the match), Carlos Megía Dávila, while they were looking for that of the referees.
A version disputed by the Parisian club: according to a source interviewed by AFP, Leonardo and President Al-Khelaïfi wanted to speak to the referee and insisted when he refused. The tone rose when they realized that the scene was filmed by a mobile phone and asked the owner to stop.