UEFA Open Investigation Into Ronaldo's Crotch-Grabbing Celebration
18th March 2019
Juventus take on Dutch club Ajax in the Champions League quarter-finals over two legs, on April 10 in Amsterdam and April 16 in Turin
- UEFA on Monday opened an investigation into Cristiano Ronaldo's goal celebration after scoring a hat-trick in Juventus' Champions League comeback win against Atletico Madrid last week
- European football's governing body said Ronaldo was facing charges of "improper conduct" after he mimicked Diego Simeone's crotch-grabbing 'cojones' gesture in last Tuesday's 3-0 win that sent Juventus through 3-2 on aggregate
MILAN, Italy- UEFA
on Monday opened an investigation into Cristiano Ronaldo's goal celebration
after scoring a hat-trick in Juventus' Champions League comeback win against
Atletico Madrid last week.
European football's governing body said Ronaldo was facing
charges of "improper conduct" after he mimicked Diego Simeone's
crotch-grabbing 'cojones' gesture in last Tuesday's 3-0 win that sent Juventus
through 3-2 on aggregate.
After scoring the decisive penalty four minutes from time,
Ronaldo turned towards the Atletico fans and replicated Simeone's gesture after
the Spaniards' 2-0 first leg win by grasping his genitals and thrusting out his
groin.
A decision will be taken by UEFA on March 21.
Juventus take on Dutch club Ajax in the Champions League
quarter-finals over two legs, on April 10 in Amsterdam and April 16 in Turin.
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Coach Massimiliano Allegri has said he is confident Ronaldo
will not be fined or suspended.
"I think everyone celebrated their own way on the field
and in the stands. I saw nothing strange, just a celebration. There won't be a
ban," said Allegri.
Simeone was fined 20,000 euros ($22,000) by UEFA for his
gesture.
"He will have seen how I did it at the Wanda
Metropolitano and, like me, was trying to show his character," said the
Argentinian coach.
Five-time Champions League winner Ronaldo is the record goal scorer in the European competition with 124 goals in 160 matches.