Real Madrid are concerned that Antonio Rudiger could be banned for the first leg of next week's Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal, according to a report in Spain.
The German defender is one of four Real players under UEFA investigation for their alleged "indecent conduct" in the aftermath of the club's last-16 penalty shootout victory over Atletico Madrid last month. The reigning European champions celebrated enthusiastically after coming through a controversial series of spot-kicks.
Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Dani Ceballos are expected to escape with a fine and a suspended one-match ban but Madrid "fear" that Rudiger's punishment could be more severe, according to MARCA.
The revered centre-back converted the decisive penalty after Carlo Ancelotti deemed Endrick to be mentally unprepared, wheeling away in a high-knee sprint down the pitch. Rudiger was pictured appearing to make a slitting throat gesture towards the crowd which MARCA described as "not well received" and "considered threatening".
Madrid are up against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals next week. The Spanish outfit travel to the Emirates on Tuesday, 8 April before hosting the return fixture eight days later.
The Gunners have their own selection issues to deal with. Starting centre-back Gabriel lasted just 16 minutes in Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Fulham on Tuesday night before limping off with a hamstring injury. Mikel Arteta could not provide any timeline on the defender's recovery, but revealed that he was "worried" to see his battling lieutenant ask to be subbed off.
There are doubts over the availability of Arsenal's fellow defenders Ben White and Jurrien Timber, while Riccardo Calafiori is all but guaranteed to be sidelined.
A ban for Rudiger would potentially be even more detrimental to Real Madrid than Gabriel's absence may be for Arsenal. The front-foot centre-back has scarcely missed a minute for Madrid in a season which has seen an array of defenders spend time in the club's treatment room. David Alaba has only just returned from a lengthy ACL injury and didn't fill many with confidence after deflecting two goals past his own goalkeeper in the Copa del Rey semi-final thriller against Real Sociedad on Tuesday.
UEFA will reveal their final judgement on the punishment handed out to Rudiger - as well as Vinicius, Mbappe and Ceballos - on Friday.
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