Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid to book their place in the Champions League final, but one player could be suspended by UEFA for an altercation with Marc Pouville after the final whistle.
Gabriel Jesus appeared to lash out (Image: X)
Gabriel Jesus could face punishment for punching Atletico Madrid defender Marc Poubil after Arsenal’s win over the Spanish team, potentially jeopardizing their chances of qualifying for the Champions League final.
Video footage shown at the Emirates Stadium showed Pabil attempting to disrupt the Gunners’ post-match celebrations, but Jesus took exception. The Brazilian then appeared to slap Pavil in the face.
Atlético’s Pubil had already shoved a celebrating Victor Gokeres from behind. The Swedish striker linked arms with Cristian Mosquera and Jesus, but Jesus reacted angrily.
Footage showed Mosquera trying to pull Pubil away, but Jesus appeared to make contact with his opponent and appeared to react more forcefully. Miles Lewis-Skelly and Declan Rice eventually de-escalated the situation and directed Pavil towards the tunnel.
UEFA is said to be currently reviewing the official report on the semi-final match, after which any reported incidents will trigger proceedings that could lead to disciplinary action.
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UEFA’s disciplinary committee will base its conclusions on the post-match report compiled by the match agent.
Jesus was on the bench the entire night, witnessing several heated exchanges. Diego Simeone has had a tense standoff with Arsenal transfer director Andrea Berta, with whom he previously worked in the Spanish capital.
Jesus has played a limited role in this season’s Champions League, mainly being brought on from the bench by Mikel Arteta. The former Manchester City striker has appeared in every final round, but now faces an uncertain situation as he waits to find out whether he is eligible to play in the final in Budapest.
Riccardo Calafioli and Gabriel Jesus celebrate their victory (Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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Arsenal will face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain at the Puskas Arena after the Premier League season ends. The Gunners have just over three weeks left to complete their domestic fixtures, so the focus shifts entirely to the European fixtures.
Tuesday’s heated post-match confrontation did not dampen the mood for long as Arsenal players threw themselves into ecstatic celebrations with fans in north London.
Match winner Bukayo Saka said on Amazon Prime: “Hey, you’re trying to steal me away from the celebration! It’s so beautiful.
“What it means to us and what it means to our fans. We’re all very happy.
“This match was a high-pressure match and meant a lot to both sides. I’m happy that we were able to control it well and advance to the final.”
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