the uEFA opened a disciplinary file against Paris SG, its president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and its sports director Leonardofor the behavior of the two leaders after the elimination of the Parisians on Wednesday in the round of 16 of the Champions League against Real Madrid.
The file is based on article 11 of the disciplinary regulations of the instance, on “the general principles of conduct”, as well as in 15, which sanctions the “incorrect behavior of the players and managers”, a UEFA spokesman told AFP.
These two provisions penalize above all non-respect “to the instructions of the referee” or more broadly “to unsportsmanlike behaviour”, that can be punished with suspension matches and economic fines.
The Spanish press reported this Thursday that Al-Khelaifi and Leonardo had a “aggressive behavior” towards the referees once PSG was eliminated, after losing 3-1 against Real Madrid.
According to these media, Al Khelaifi and Leonardo They went down from their box to the referees’ locker room, sources from the merengue club also confirmed without giving further details.
The president of PSG and its sports director they would be dissatisfied with the arbitration in the first goal of Real Madridin which PSG complained that a foul by Benzema, who scored a hat-trick, on goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was not called.
A version answered by the Parisian club: according to a source consulted by AFP, Leonardo and the president wanted to talk to the referee. The tone rose when they realized that there was someone recording with a mobile phone and asked its owner to stop.
According to Cadena Ser radio, the president of PSG would have threatened a Real Madrid employee, He tried to record the scene with his mobile.
The newspaper As points out that after the altercation, “PSG sent a French club protocol employee to apologize to the referees and to Real Madrid.”
“It is clear that it is a feeling of great injustice due to a clear foul on Benzema’s Donnarumma”, PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino said after the match.
– “Sense of injustice” –
The two leaders of PSG “displayed aggressive behavior and attempted to enter the referees’ locker room,” according to the minutes of the meeting, which the Spanish newspapers reflect this Wednesday.
“When the referee asked them to leave, they blocked the door and the president deliberately hit the pennant of one of the attendees, breaking it,” The match referee, Danny Makkelie, would have added to the minutes, according to the Spanish press.
According to Marca y As, the president and technical director of PSG in their search for the referees’ locker room, They got into the Real Madrid delegate, Megía Dávila.
Before UEFA announced the disciplinary file, a spokesman for the instance reported that “official reports” were being examined, including that of the referee.
Strong man of world football with many facets, Nasser Al Khelaifi is not only the president of PSG: He also directs the beIN Media group, one of the main players in the television rights market, he chairs the powerful European Club Association (ECA), and has a seat on the UEFA executive committee.
Opposing in the spring of 2021 a private and semi-closed European competition project, the Qatari had emerged reinforced from the Super League crisis. “With you, we are going to save football,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin told him.
