UEFA confirm Mbappe, Rudiger, Vinicius Jr punishment ahead of Arsenal clash

UEFA have confirmed that none of the four Real Madrid players investigated will miss next week’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Premier League side Arsenal.

Real Madrid stars Antonio Rudiger and Kylian Mbappe have received suspended one-match bans on top of fines, while team-mate Dani Ceballos has got off with just a fine after the trio ‘violated the basic rules of decent conduct’.

Former Chelsea defender Rudiger was accused of making a throat-slitting gesture towards Atletico Madrid supporters in the aftermath of last month’s dramatic round-of-16 second leg. Vinicius Junior was also probed by UEFA but has escaped punishment.

Antonio Rüdiger was investigated for his celebration. (Photo by David Ramos – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

UEFA have confirmed the players’ punishments. Rudiger and Mbappe have each been hit with a suspended one-match ban and fined €40,000 (£34,000) and €30,000 (£25,000) respectively.

Ceballos, who played for Arsenal on loan from 2019 to 2021, has been fined €20,000 (£17,000). It was also confirmed that no disciplinary proceedings were opened against Vinicius.

Arsenal welcome Los Blancos to the Emirates in the next few days and some fans were hoping the Spanish giant will be without their top players.

However, the decision means that all four probed players will be available to Carlo Ancelotti, as the 15-time Champions League winners continue their title defence before the return leg takes place at the Bernabeu on April 16.

Real Madrid will however be without No.1 goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for the first leg. The Belgium international has missed three of Real’s last five matches in all competitions through injury, including both games since the international break.

Madrid second goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, has also suffered an injury and is a doubt for their game at home to Valencia on Saturday. Third-choice goalkeeper Fran Gonzalez, 19, is poised to start the LaLiga match but Ancelotti is confident that Courtois will be available for their trip to north London.