ATLETICO MADNESS
⚫ The world’s roughest football team
MADRID. - Football fans are calling for Atletico Madrid to be banned from the Champions League after the shocking and ‘‘disgraceful’’ scenes during their goalless draw with Manchester City on Wednesday night.
The Spanish side drew 0-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano and were knocked out of the competition 1-0 on aggregate. The second leg, however, descended into anarchy as former City defender Stefan Savic followed Jack Grealish inside the tunnel and attacked the substitute after the full-time whistle.
Pep Guardiola was showered with bottles raining from the stands as he ran down the tunnel after City’s goalless draw secured a semi-final date with Real Madrid.
Atletico central defender Felipe saw red after a tackle on Phil Foden which sparked a melee in one corner of the pitch.
Felipe’s hack left the forward in a heap - then Savic’s aggression boiled over as he dragged the forward back on to the pitch before appearing to headbutt Raheem Sterling.
Savic and Grealish had exchanged words during that brawl - the former pulling the England international’s hair - but the hostility escalated in the tunnel.
Four local policemen, dressed in riot gear, rushed down towards the dressing rooms on a shameful night for the Spanish champions.
Marcos Llorente was seen throwing an object in the direction of Aymeric Laporte in the tunnel area, while there appeared to be a physical altercation later in a clip circulating online, and there were reports objects were thrown at members of the opposite camps.
One fan said: “Atletico Madrid should be banned from playing the champions league next season.”
Another said: “Atletico should be banned from Europe next season. This all stems from Simeone. Horrible team.” A third was quick to add: “Atletico should be banned from Europe. They have got f ***** g issues. The absolute state of this team.”
Rio Ferdinand led pundits in condemning the ‘disgraceful’ actions of Atletico.
“Distasteful behaviour from the Atletico players, they should be embarrassed with some of the antics they have gone on. You have to say, talking about football, well done to Atletico Madrid as they made Manchester City play in a way we haven’t seen for a long time, took them out of their rhythm and their stride. But, some of the stuff towards the end was not what you want to see on a football pitch.
“From what we’ve seen, it is handbags in the tunnel with Atletico and City. It is best that it ended like that but it is a pantomime. You’ve got Savic acting the fool. The thing that riled me, he kicks his calf, this is what Atletico do, if it was the reverse, they’d be doing exactly the same thing.” Former Manchester City player Joleon Lescott said: “The last 10 minutes, you can’t condone that. It’s not something you want to see from an elite coach and a top level manager.”
Fellow pundit Owen Hargreaves added: “City had so much composure and class. It was a disgrace from Atletico at the end. Just play nice football! They had a right go but the antics were rubbish. Credit Man City, they’re so much more resilient. That was a really, really difficult game. Great performance from City.”