PSG could face UEFA punishment over Marcus Rashford incident during Villa clash

Paris Saint-Germain beat Aston Villa 5-4 on aggregate to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, but UEFA could sanction them after items were thrown at Marcus Rashford

Paris Saint-Germain could be sanctioned by UEFA after Marcus Rashford had missiles thrown at him during their Champions League clash with Aston Villa on Tuesday. PSG reached the semi-finals of the competition after beating Villa 5-4 on aggregate, having won the first leg 3-1.

However, Villa threatened to produce a stunning comeback at Villa Park, despite Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes scoring early goals that put PSG 5-1 up on aggregate. Villa, though, hit back with goals from Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Ezri Konsa but were unable to force the game to extra-time.

There was an incident during the match where Rashford, who assisted Konsa’s goal with an excellent burst into the box, appeared to have missiles thrown at him from the away end while he was preparing to take a corner. Although the incident was not picked up on TV, Amazon Prime commentator Jon Champion noted that there were “items being thrown at” Rashford.

And former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has explained that PSG are likely to be fined over the incident. “If the UEFA observer has seen this, he will report the matter, and if proven, a sanction will be imposed,” Hackett told Football Insider.

“A fine is likely, rather than a ban.” Villa could also face sanctions from UEFA after a plastic bottle was thrown towards referee Jose Maria Sanchez as the official headed down the tunnel after the game.

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Although the bottle missed Sanchez, he did briefly stop and stare at the Trinity Road Stand where it was thrown from. UEFA may also decide to fine Villa as a result of the incident.

Despite the fact Villa were knocked out of Europe, manager Unai Emery was full of praise for his side’s performance and urged them to focus on ensuring they qualify for the next season’s tournament.

Villa currently sit seventh in the Premier League, but they are just one point behind Manchester City in fifth. “It is now most important to get Europe again,” Emery told reporters after the game.

“The most important competition is the Champions League. The challenge we have for the last six matches is to try and get Europe and the Champions League.

“Getting to this level is the next step forward, I want to try to win with Aston Villa. We played two legs, we competed well. In the process we are doing here, tonight was the highest level we achieved.

“In the Champions League against teams like PSG is when we can test how we are responding. I am so happy and confident about how we are raising our standards.

“The players have shown their capacity to play at this level – beating Bayern Munich, beating PSG. Our ambition is to be consistent in every competition, with the players we have or adding more quality players in case we need them.

“I am very confident in our ability to get our objectives this season as long as we work hard until the final games we play.”

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