UEFA, the governing body of European football, has issued a series of penalties against FC Barcelona and its head coach, Xavi Hernandez, following inappropriate conduct during their Champions League quarter-final match against Paris Saint-Germain.
According to the Spanish newspaper “As,” the disciplinary actions include a two-match suspension for Xavi due to his inappropriate objections to the referee’s decisions during the second leg of the tie.
The controversy escalated when Xavi received a red card after kicking a camera carrier at the Montjuic Stadium, where the Catalan team suffered a significant defeat (4-1) and was eliminated from the prestigious continental tournament.
Additionally, Barcelona’s captain, Sergi Roberto, also faces a two-match suspension for entering the field to protest against the referee, despite being ineligible to play due to accumulated cautions.
Further disciplinary measures were taken against other members of Barcelona’s coaching staff.
Goalkeeping coach Jose Ramon de la Fuente received a one-match suspension for protesting against the referee’s decisions, and Ronald Araujo was also suspended for one match due to a direct red card.
The sanctions extend to financial penalties for FC Barcelona, totalling 60,000 euros. The breakdown includes 26,000 euros for the unsportsmanlike behaviour of players and the coach, 26,250 euros for projectiles thrown onto the pitch, and an additional 5,000 euros for a pitch invasion by individuals.
Paris Saint-Germain was also fined 4,000 euros due to their fans igniting fireworks in celebration of the goals during the match. These penalties reflect UEFA’s commitment to maintaining sportsmanship and discipline in European football competitions.
