PARIS – UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser Al Khelaifi and sporting director Leonardo following Wednesday’s 3-1 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid.
Spanish media reported that Al Khelaifi entered the match referee’s dressing room shouting after the match, an incident recorded by a Real Madrid employee with a mobile phone.
“We confirm that a disciplinary case has been opened. The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will take a decision in due course,” European football’s governing body told Reuters.
The French side dominated possession and led 1-0 until Karim Benzema equalised in the 61st minute, a goal PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino felt should have been disallowed because goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was fouled in the build-up.
PSG, who lost the last-16 tie 3-2 on aggregate, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
French striker Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, insisted that PSG players would “remain united and determined until the final match of the season” despite another disappointing Champions League elimination.
For the fourth time in six seasons PSG crashed out in the last 16, self-destructing to 13-time European champions Real Madrid on Wednesday in Spain.
PSG were cruising at 2-0 up on aggregate after Mbappe’s 39th-minute strike, the World Cup-winner having also scored the only goal in the first leg.
For an hour the Paris club looked assured of a last-eight berth, but Karim Benzema turned the tie on its head with three goals in 17 minutes as Real swept to a 3-1 win and 3-2 aggregate triumph.
“Difficult time. The Champions League was a big goal for us, but we failed,” wrote the 23-year-old Mbappe on Instagram.
The Champions League has been the main objective coveted by the club’s Qatari owners since buying the club in 2011.
And this season, yet another failure in the elite European competition follows those in the Champions Trophy and the French Cup.
The club have now only Ligue 1 to play for, and their 13-point lead on second-placed Nice makes them almost impossible to catch.
“The season is not over and whatever happens we will remain united and determined until the last match of the season,” added Mbappe.
“Thank you to the fans who support us and who made the trip.”
Meanwhile, Mbappe gave no indication of his future plans, the subject of intense speculation in recent months.
The contract of the former Monaco player, recruited in 2017 for €180 million, expires at the end of the season, which allows another club to recruit him on a free transfer.
PSG turned down a reported 200-million offer late last year from Real Madrid.
PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino said in his post-match press conference it was a “clear foul” and left the players feeling a “great sense of injustice”.
