Footage from inside the Wanda Metrpolitano tunnel showed Atletico Madrid and Manchester City players continue to berate each other after the full-time whistle of their Champions League clash on Wednesday.
The Premier League leaders knocked out their Spanish rivals in a fiery quarter-final second leg, which saw Felipe sent off late on for kicking out at Phil Foden.
That incident sparked a fracas on the pitch with Stefan Savic pictured aiming a headbutt at Raheem Sterling and pulling Jack Grealish’s hair, among other incidents.
After the match, Spanish television revealed the view from the tunnel as ex-City defender Savic continued to argue with Grealish before Kyle Walker had to be held back by teammate Ederson.
Police intervened as a furious Sime Vrsaljko, an Atleti substitute, also had to be restrained following an object being launched over a metal barrier at the visiting players.
Footage from inside the Atlético Madrid tunnel:pic.twitter.com/Su3lCPlK7o
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) April 13, 2022
Atletico coach Diego Simeone insisted that he did not see the tunnel scuffle as he was applauding the home fans, while Pep Guardiola simply stated that he had “nothing to say” on the matter.
“I don’t know,” he added. “I cannot talk about what other people do. I don’t know.”
Aymeric Laporte, who helped City reach the semi-finals with a 0-0 draw in Madrid, hit out at the home team’s antics towards the end of the game.
“Who were wasting time were their team, getting into absurd fights,” he said.
“We already know how they are and they always do the same. It's always ugly to see these fights, a lot of fuss is made with little. I think it was bad for them because they were in their best moment in the game.”
City were praised for not picking up any red cards themselves in the fracas although it remains to be seen if Uefa will hand out any charges to any players having reviewed the footage.
BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand told BT Sport: “You have to commend the way City dealt with that situation. It’s difficult in those moments.
It all kicked off at the Wanda Metropolitano! 😳
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 13, 2022
Felipe lashed out at Phil Foden and was eventually sent off, while Stefan Savić continued to lose the plot!
Chaos in Madrid! 🥵#UCL pic.twitter.com/MTYQeXxu9p
“Forget the crowd, those moments when you’re trying to get to the end and you’re being antagonised, you’ve got someone in front of you poking, poking, poking you all the time. They’ve managed to come away without anyone getting too involved.
“We heard about something after the game but the game is finished then. For Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling especially – Phil is a young boy and it’s a good experience for him in some ways.”
