UEFA has announced it will launch an investigation concerning gestures from Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel whose goal celebration against Real Madrid on Tuesday was sorted "unsporting conduct", UEFA said in a statement on their official website on Wednesday. Various reactions have been unveiled in Spain following the arm-gesture celebration from the Dutchman, who has apologized after the match. "I apologize for Real Madrid fans, I meant none of them, but some players," said the 29-year-old international. The gesture had a greater impact since it came from a former Barcelona player. Real Madrid veteran defender Roberto Carlos has demanded a heavy sanction be imposed on Van Bommel as well as Bayern's teammate Hasan Salihamidzic, who was involved in the gesture-incident according to the Brazilian.
What? "I've been in football for 18 years, and I'm surprised such things happen. I hope UEFA will impose the proper sanction on both of them, I had been suspended for three matches before and I wait no less for them," he told Spanish daily Marca on Wednesday. Marca, Spain's leading sports daily, slammed Bayern Munich for Van Bommel's misconduct. "They'll swallow this" Marca highlighted its title on Wednesday, referring to Van Bommel's arm. "Real Madrid will play in Germany as if for the first time, eliminating the impolite Van Bommel and his teammates (from the Champions League)," added the widely spread Marca. Van Bommel's long-range strike gave Bayern Munich a better position in aggregate score as they now have two-away goals before hosting Los Merengues in the second-leg on March 7th, the Bavarians need only a 1-0 home win to cancel the Spaniards 3-2 lead.
