KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: European football federation UEFA has charged Cristiano Ronaldo with improper conduct over a gesture to fans after Juventus’ Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid last week.
The Portuguese veteran scored a hat-trick as Juventus turned around the tie to reach the quarter-finals. He celebrated by copying an offensive gesture made by Atletico coach Diego Simeone after the Spanish club’s opening goal in the first leg of the tie.
Simeone was fined €20,000 by UEFA.
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UEFA has now announced: “Improper conduct of player Cristiano Ronaldo [under] Art. 11 (2) (b) and Art. 11 (2) (d) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations. The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will deal with this case at its next meeting on March 21.”
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Juventus have been drawn against Ajax in the Champions League. Victory would secure a semi-final duel with Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester City.
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Ronaldo was rested from Juventus’ weekend defeat by Genoa in Italy’s Serie A. Two late goals from Stefano Stuaro and Goran Pandev inflicted the champions and leaders’ first league defeat of the campaign.
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