Liverpool players avoid severe punishment for ugly brawl

Liverpool U19 players have avoided a severe punishment for a mass brawl during a UEFA Youth League game against Porto.

Earlier this month the Reds drew 1-1 with the Portuguese giants at Kirkby, with Melkamu Frauendorf levelling the scores in the second half to take the game to penalties.

However, things then descended to chaos, with three penalties missed in the shootout, a mass brawl and a trio of red cards.

Indeed, Porto's Jesus Diaz - who happens to be the brother of Liverpool star Luis Diaz - was one of the players to miss a spot-kick, before forward Umaro Cande then hit the bar with his penalty.

Cande’s botched spot-kick sparked wild celebrations amongst the Liverpool youngsters, which the Porto player appeared to take issue with.

Cande made his feelings clear to several of the Reds squad, which appeared to then trigger a mass brawl between the two sets of players.

Three red cards were shown by the referee, with Cande, Porto team-mate Goncalo Ribeiro and Liverpool's Lewis Koumas all sent off.

Liverpool and Porto escape further sanctions

Football Insider claim Liverpool and Porto have avoided a hefty fine for their player's conduct.

The publication had previously claimed that UEFA might go further in its punishment than simply suspending the trio.

Koumas will serve a one-match suspension for his part in the brawl, which will see him miss the Reds’ quarter-final tie against Sporting Lisbon next Tuesday.

Yet with Porto now out of the competition, UEFA have delayed their decision on Cande and Ribeiro until the governing body’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body meets later this month.

Liverpool could face additional punishment, however, given they received five bookings in the game. Such a disciplinary record would typically see a team fall foul of rules relating to ‘improper conduct’.

Yet clubs have previously been let off with warnings for such indiscretions.