UEFA charges Buffon after red card

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been charged by UEFA after aggressive behaviour and comments toward the referee during his team’s UEFA Champions League elimination by Real Madrid.

UEFA said yesterday that the case against Buffon relates to “general principles of conduct,” and his red card for confronting the referee after Madrid was awarded a decisive stoppage-time penalty.

UEFA’s disciplinary panel will judge the case on May 31.

The teams were heading for extra time in a quarter-final, second leg game in Madrid on April 11, when English referee Michael Oliver ruled that Juventus defender Medhi Benatia fouled Lucas Vazquez in the goalmouth.

Buffon verbally and physically confronted Oliver. He was sent off before Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot to send Madrid through 4-3 on aggregate to the semifinals.

In post-match interviews, the 40year-old Italian great criticised Oliver and questioned his ability.

Buffon faces an extension to the automatic one-game ban for his red card. Any ban would apply in next season’s Champions League, though it is unclear if Buffon would continue playing beyond this season.

Also yesterday, UEFA dismissed an appeal by Atletico Madrid and its coach Diego Simeone against a fourgame ban for his conduct at a Europa League semi-final, first-leg game at Arsenal.

Simeone is banned from contacting players and staff in the stadium when Atletico play Marseille at the Europa League final in Lyon, France, next Wednesday.