Dani Carvajal of Real Madrid could be suspended by UEFA for fighting with Bukayo Saka during halftime of his team’s Champions League loss to Arsenal.
Carvajal was spotted in the tunnel area as the teams exited the pitch.
The Spanish international accosted Saka and raised his hands as the England star made his way to the dressing rooms.
When the Gunners winger pushed back after Carvajal placed his hand on the back of Saka’s neck, staff members from both sides, including Ben White, the Gunners substitute, rushed to Carvajal’s defence.
Saka swiftly left the tunnel and was found to be entirely innocent in the incident; the Spanish daily Marca has now confirmed what many had assumed to be the cause of Carvajal’s ire.
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According to the report, the six-time Champions League champion was not pleased with what he considered to be Saka’s “disrespectful” decision to take a Panenka penalties against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
The Arsenal star’s first-half attempt was comfortably saved by Thibaut Courtois.
Saka’s miss ultimately had little effect on the quarterfinal match’s result, as the Gunners easily maintained their 3-0 first-leg lead and advanced to a 5-1 aggregate semi-final matchup with Paris Saint-Germain.
Midway through the second half, Saka made up for his missed penalty with a brilliant finish to give the Gunners the lead.
Vinicius Jr. then promptly equalised following a mistake by William Saliba, and Gabriel Martinelli broke through to give the visitors the victory in stoppage time. Carvajal has been out since October due to an ACL injury.
He watched the game from the stands at the Bernabeu before going down to the pitchside at halftime. Carvajal netted a Panenka penalties for Spain in the 2023 Nations League final shootout victory over Croatia.
Carvajal violated UEFA regulations by going to the technical area at halftime even though he was not allowed to be there as a spectator and was not a member of the team.
Now, he can be subject to a UEFA ban, much as the one given to former Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso, who raced down the touchline and from the stands to celebrate his team’s victory against Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final.
Alonso was banned for Real Madrid’s match against Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup final at the beginning of the following season after being suspended from the final and thus not allowed to get to the pitch.