Europe 1 with AFP 7:31 p.m., March 10, 2022

The day after PSG's elimination from the Champions League, UEFA opened a disciplinary investigation against Paris Saint-Germain, its president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and its sporting director Leonardo, due to the behavior of the two leaders. 

UEFA opened a disciplinary investigation on Thursday against Paris SG, its president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and its sporting director Leonardo, due to the behavior of the two leaders after the Parisian elimination against Real Madrid in the round of 16 of C1.

This procedure is based on article 11 of the disciplinary regulations of the body, which concerns the "general principles of conduct", as well as on article 15 which sanctions the "incorrect behavior of players and officials", a spokesperson told AFP.

Suspension matches and a fine mentioned

The two provisions are aimed in particular at non-compliance with "instructions given by the referee" or more broadly "unsportsmanlike behavior", and provide for sanctions that can combine suspension matches and a fine.

Spanish media reported on Thursday that Al-Khelaïfi and Leonardo had "aggressive behavior" towards the referees the day before after the sinking against Real Madrid (3-1), furious at the validation of the first of Karim Benzema's three goals .

The Parisian club believes that the center forward of Real committed a foul on the Parisian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before scoring, without the referees whistling it or checking the images to the VAR.

An "aggressive behavior" of the two Parisian leaders

According to the content of the match report broadcast by the Spanish media, the two Parisian leaders "showed aggressive behavior and tried to enter the referees' locker room".

“When the referee asked them to leave, they blocked the door, and the president intentionally hit the flag of one of the assistants, ending up breaking it,” said the referee of the game, the Dutchman Danny Makkelie, according to the Spanish press.

According to the sports dailies Marca and As, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and Leonardo even entered the dressing room of the Real Madrid delegate (responsible among other things for announcing the changes to the referee during the match) Megía Dávila, while they sought that of the arbiters.

A version disputed by the Parisian club: according to a source interviewed by AFP, Leonardo and President Al-Khelaïfi wanted to speak to the referee and insisted when he refused.

The tone rose when they realized that the scene was filmed by a mobile phone and they asked the owner to stop.