Update: PSG could face UEFA punishment after Marcus Rashford Champions League incident News

Paris Saint-Germain could be punished by UEFA after Marcus Rashford had items thrown at him

Paris Saint-Germain may face UEFA sanctions following an incident where Marcus Rashford was targeted with projectiles during their Champions League match against Aston Villa earlier this week.

PSG advanced to the semi-finals after defeating Villa 5-4 on aggregate, having secured a 3-1 victory in the first leg. Despite early goals from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes putting PSG 5-1 ahead on aggregate, Villa nearly staged a remarkable comeback at Villa Park. Goals from Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, and Ezri Konsa brought Villa back into contention, but they fell short of pushing the game into extra time.

During the match, Rashford, who set up Konsa’s goal with a brilliant run into the box, seemed to be the target of projectiles thrown from the away end while preparing for a corner kick. Although the incident wasn’t captured on TV, Amazon Prime commentator Jon Champion observed “items being thrown at” Rashford.

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has suggested that PSG could be fined over the incident. Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett said: “If the UEFA observer has seen this, he will report the matter, and if proven, a sanction will be imposed,” adding that “A fine is likely, rather than a ban.”

Villa might also face UEFA penalties after a plastic bottle was hurled towards referee Jose Maria Sanchez as he made his way down the tunnel post-match. Although the bottle thrown from the Trinity Road Stand didn’t hit Alexis Sanchez, he did momentarily pause to look in the direction of the incident.

UEFA might consider imposing a fine on Aston Villa due to this occurrence. Despite Villa’s exit from European competition, manager Unai Emery commended his team’s efforts and called for concentration on securing a spot in next season’s European tournaments.

Villa is currently positioned seventh in the Premier League, just a single point adrift of Manchester City who are in fifth place. Post-match, Emery addressed the media, saying: “It is now most important to get Europe again.

“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.”

He also spoke about the benchmark set by competing against top-tier teams: “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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