'Utter disgrace': Football world condemns 'disgusting' incident

Football fans have taken to social media in disgust, after ugly scenes marred the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie between Atletico Madrid and Manchester City.

A wild melee at the end of the match overshadowed City's triumph over Atletico, following the 0-0 draw in the second leg at the Wanda Metropolitan in Madrid.

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The result was enough to see the English champions claim the tie 1-0 on aggregate and progress to the set-finals of the competition, where they will face 13-time winners Real Madrid.

However, the second leg in Madrid descended into chaos after a mass brawl broke out late in the match, and tempers continued to boil over in the tunnel after full-time.

Police were seen in the tunnel at the Wanda Metropolitano as video footage showed heated arguments breaking out between the players, including Atletico's Stefan Savic and City's Jack Grealish, with staff trying to keep the players apart.

Footage also shows an Atletico Madrid player throwing a drink that smashes into a City official.

The trouble began on the pitch, as Atletico defender Felipe sparked a huge brawl in the corner after a taking a wild swipe at City's Phl Foden.

Felipe was sent off but not before a crowd of players, substitutes and staff swarmed in.

Amongst the mayhem, Stefan Savic could be seen pulling the hair of unused City substitute Jack Grealish, with the pair engaging in a heated war of words.

Objects were also thrown from sections of the crowd towards players on the field, before the mayhem continued during a series of flash-points in the tunnel as the players left the ground.

The shocking scenes sparking outrage from viewers on social media.

Coaches tight-lipped on controversy

Atletico coach Diego Simeone told reporters he "didn't see" what caused the chaos.

"I was on the pitch applauding the fans. By the time I went inside there was nobody there."

Pep Guardiola was asked about the behaviour of Atletico's players to which he responded" "Nothing to say."

Pressed further in relation to a head injury sustained by Foden in another poor challenge from Felipe in the first half, Guardiola said: “I don’t talk about referees or the opponents either.”

Guardiola preferred to focus on the determined effort of his players to claim a result amid fierce provocation and an intimidating atmosphere.

“They pushed us a lot,” Guardiola said. “Atletico were excellent in the second half and we forgot to play. We were in big trouble and they had chances to score.

“We had one or two clear chances in the first half but in the second half of the second leg they were much better. But at the same time we defended with everything.

“We had to adapt. We could not have the ball and we felt the pressure. We are in the semi-finals and it is an incredible achievement for our club.”

Atletico coach Diego Simeone also refused to apportion blame for the ugly scenes.

Simeone said: “I always think justice should be implemented by other people. It is the referee who should implement justice.”

On his side’s general performance, Simeone said: “We are disappointed because we are out. You always want to win, no matter how you win. Winning is the most important thing.

“But of course it was a very difficult tie against an extraordinary rival. We contained their strength and they only had a couple of chances.

“We played better in the second half and created chances that could have allowed us to win but we were not clinical.”

In the end, Kevin De Bruyne's first-leg strike last week at the Etihad Stadium proved enough for City to claim a 1-0 victory on aggregate in Madrid, although the Belgian had to go off with an injury which, if significant, would be a hammer blow to their hopes of winning the treble.

Kyle Walker also hobbled off in the second half.

City will now face Real Madrid, with Liverpool up against Villarreal in the other semi-final to complete an all Spanish-English line-up in the last four.

Simeone was widely criticised for Atletico's negative tactics in the first leg and there was only a minor shift here, with the plan still to keep the game tight ahead of a final push.

Atletico came close, spurning a number of late chances, but instead City advance to the semis for a second consecutive year, in sight again of their first Champions League triumph.

with agencies

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