UEFA punishes Mbappe, Rudiger, clears Vini Jr. of any wrongdoing

Mbappe and Rudiger

By Emmanuel Akyereko

The Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has handed down punishments to three Real Madrid players for their conduct in their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League round of 16 second-leg tie against Atletico Madrid.

Kylian Mbappe, Dani Ceballos, and Antonio Rudiger have each suffered punishment for their conduct in the victory celebration at the Metropolitano.

Though Vinicius Junior was among the players who were charged by UEFA, the proceedings cleared him of any wrongdoing and didn’t suffer any punishment.

Rudiger has been slapped with a €40,000 fine and a suspended ban of a game within a year should he repeat the offence. Mbappe was equally fined €30,000 for his conduct and also received a one year suspended ban.

Dani Ceballos was fined €20,000 without any suspended ban.

This means the trio will be available to face Arsenal on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 in the quarter-final first-leg at the Emirates Stadium.

Real Madrid won the second leg of the Champions League last 16 round against Atletico Madrid in a penalty shootout, and Mbappe, Rudiger, Ceballos, and Vinicius Jr. made provocative gestures to the Atletico stands during the celebration.