Footage from the Wanda Metropolitano tunnel shows the scope of the chaos that followed Manchester City’s thrilling Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid.
City have advanced to the competition’s semi-finals after a hard-fought 0-0 draw in the Spanish capital saw them advance 1-0 on aggregate following their victory in Manchester last week. However, the game devolved into mayhem in the final stages, which spilled over into the tunnel after the final whistle.
In the 90th minute, Felipe of Atletico Madrid lashed out at Phil Foden, who was wearing a bandage on his head after a brutal challenge from the defender in the first half, after the midfielder had leaped over his tackle. Stefan Savic then stormed over and attempted to drag Foden back onto the pitch, including both sets of players, substitutes, and members.
Savic, a former City player, was at the center of it all, appearing to headbutt Raheem Sterling and then tugging at Jack Grealish’s hair when the playmaker had some harsh words for him. Felipe was fired for his role, but Savic escaped with merely a citation.
City held on for nine minutes of injury time, but emotions remained high after the final whistle, and claims surfaced that Grealish and Savic were involved in another incident as they exited the field.
Footage from the tunnel courtesy of a TV channel TVOO Sports documented how tempers flared. As Ruben Dias took his teammate away, Savic and Grealish had to be separated, but as another group of players proceeded down the tunnel, more players came together.
Substitute Sime Vrsaljko seemed to hurl a bib at several City players, striking Aymeric Laporte, and then had to be restrained as he approached the Blues stars. Kyle Walker is being dragged away from the trouble by Ederson and Romeo Lavia. The police are then seen entering the tunnel and removing the players.
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“Greaish was walking down the tunnel when Stefan Savic caught up with him,” BT Sport announcer Darren Fletcher said from the stadium. There was a commotion at the mouth of the tunnel, and everyone raced to that spot. The two players vanished from my view, but not before four police officers charged into the area.
“I can’t tell you what happened exactly, but Savic was involved again.” Grealish was attempting to exit the field, and it was yet another heinous occurrence. Typical of what we’ve witnessed in the last 15 minutes.”
