?Four Real Madrid players, including Antonio Rudiger and Kylian Mbappe, are under investigate by UEFA next month's Champions League clash with Arsenal(Image: Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images)
?Arsenal and Real Madrid are still 10 days away from their Champions League quarter-final first leg meeting at the Emirates Stadium, though already there is trouble brewing around the fixture.
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?That would be down to events in the last-16 stage, specifically in the Spanish capital. Real Madrid had just set up their two-legged encounter with the Gunners by winning a controversial penalty shoot-out against cross-city rivals Atletico.
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?All five opening spot-kicks hit their mark, though Julian Alvarez's was reviewed by VAR and ruled out due to a double touch of the ball. Misses from Lucas Vasquez and Marcos Llorente left it in the hands of Antonio Rudiger, with the former Chelsea defender just managing to squeeze his attempt beyond Jan Oblak.
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?Joyous times for Madrid, a bitter taste left on their rivals, but the celebrations that would follow at the Esatadio Metropolitano have now fallen under the scrutiny of UEFA.
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?Rudiger, the tie-winner, was captured on camera doing a cut-throat gesture. Meanwhile Vinicius Jr was seen confronting opposition supporters, plus both Kylian Mbappe and Danny Ceballos are said to have made their own offensive gestures - the former alleged to have grabbed his genitals.
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?Following Atletico's complaints, UEFA have now confirmed their Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector will 'investigate allegations of indecent conduct' against the quartet. Therefore, they are threatened with the possibility of being suspended for the first leg of April's tie against Arsenal.
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?With this potentially impacting a place for either team in the final four of Europe's elite competition, football.london writers have their say on the four accused and whether they should face punishment for their actions.
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?James Quinlan
?What we saw Rudiger do and what Mbappe has been accused of overstep the mark in celebrations - I get it is in the heat of the moment but it just needs stamping out.
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?The only way that is going to happen is if UEFA, FIFA, the FA and every other governing body overseeing competitive football takes a stance and continues to ban players. It doesn't warrant the heaviest punishment in the world but a one-match ban should suffice.
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?With it unclear what Ceballos has done exactly it is hard to judge but the same message goes, and context also applies with Vini Jr. - if he has clashed with fans they must have done something to provoke it.
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?If I were Arsenal I'd gladly accept any bans the Madrid players get but really there is merit in beating the best team the opponent can field.
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?Kieran Horn
?Real Madrid's chances of winning their Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal would almost certainly go down without the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Antonio Rudiger.
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?Having seen exactly what the Madrid trio, and former Gunner Dani Ceballos are being investigated for be UEFA, it would be extremely harsh for any of them to be slapped with a suspension as punishment. While their conduct should not be accepted, a ban does seem a bit overkill.
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?While it would certainly make others think twice, it is worth including some context with that being that Atletico supporters were enticing a response. It should not be accepted however, and a fine does seem a fair outcome whether that be for the club as a whole or the players involved.
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?Even a suspension was dished out, it would likely only be on the first leg and Madrid arguably have enough quality to cope before then using the second leg to overturn any potential deficit.
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?Hannah Pinnock
?It is fair to say the potential absence of three key players will test Real Madrid, while simultaneously giving Mikel Arteta’s side a much-needed boost. Having seen the gestures made during the game against Atletico, I am not surprised an investigation is underway.
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?That being said, the precedent was arguably set in 2019 when Atletico boss Diego Simeone was fined £17,000 for an obscene gesture during his side’s Champions League game against Juventus. It’s probably only fair that the likes of Mbappe, Ceballos and Vini Jr face similar sanctions, with a ban not necessary in this case.
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?Rudiger’s alleged throat-slitting gesture, on the other hand, may prompt a more severe punishment due to it being violent in nature. It would certainly be a shame to see such a crucial tie impacted by potential suspensions, but it is crucial the UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector makes it clear that this type of behaviour is unacceptable and is not taken lightly.
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?Tom Coley
?The behaviour of the Madrid players was overboard, even for a dramatic derby win. It shouldn't be tolerated and is not the sort of example that football needs setting, even if the pure emotion of the situation is entirely understandable.
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?However, match bans are not what anybody needs for this. The argument that a fine will do nothing to stamp this out in the future is fair but realistically, does anybody (other than those of an Arsenal persuasion) want to see these big players missing?
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?The answer is surely not. Celebration policing is somewhat Arsenal supporters have been wound up by in the past and although this oversteps the mark, it feels like a step in the wrong direction to be handing out suspensions.
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?However, that does not give them the right to celebrate in the manner which they did. Behaviour of supporters has been a hot topic of conversation but players need to take responsibility when it comes to provoking reactions.
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?A ban for the quartet would send a strong message but it would be an incredible call by the European football governing body to make.
