Atletico Madrid make complaint to UEFA ahead of Champions League semi-final second leg with Arsenal
Atletico Madrid have reportedly issued a complaint to UEFA after a group of Arsenal fans set off a fireworks display outside their team hotel on the eve of the side’s Champions League semi-final second leg.
Tensions will already have been high after Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez exchanged penalties to leave the tie evenly poised after a compelling first leg at the Metropolitano last week.
Arsenal are the favourites to advance through to this year’s final and will no doubt be buoyed after their Premier League title rivals Manchester City slipped up at Everton on Monday evening.
But just hours after City’s 1-1 draw on Merseyside, Arsenal supporters looked to gain an extra advantage over Atleti by trying to unsettle and disrupt Simeone’s squad, who were staying at the Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch in east London.
According to Spanish publication AS, the ‘perfectly orchestrated’ fireworks display began at 1:30am GMT – and there was a further round of pyrotechnics at 2am GMT.
The report claims Atleti bosses were quick to report the unwelcome incident to UEFA, while adding that it is likely to be discussed during the teams’ pre-match meeting.
A short video circulating on social media shows a series of pink-coloured fireworks whistling past Atleti’s hotel before letting off loud explosions in the night sky.
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‘Who would do such a thing? [laughing emoji],’ one Arsenal fan quipped in response to the footage.
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Another joked: ‘Massive coincidence.’
‘I hope they got the lasagna as well,’ a third wrote.
A separate report from Marca claims several of Atleti’s staff and playing squad were directly affected by the fireworks display.
More to follow.
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Article source: https://metro.co.uk/2026/05/05/atletico-madrid-make-complaint-uefa-ahead-champions-league-semi-final-second-leg-arsenal-28242971/