The 2016 Champions League final at San Siro was remembered for drama, penalties, and Real Madrid’s historic “La Undécima.”
For referee Mark Clattenburg, the night took an unusual turn in the tunnel when Sergio Ramos asked him to stop Alicia Keys from performing.
UEFA had invited Alicia Keys to be the first artist to perform live at a Champions League final, treating the Milan crowd and millions of viewers worldwide to hits like Girl on Fire and Empire State of Mind. While fans enjoyed the spectacle, the players grew restless.
“In the tunnel before the game, I’ve got Koke and Ramos having a go at us. Alicia Keys was singing, and they wanted her to finish because they wanted to get on the pitch. And I’m like, are you telling me to go and tell Alicia Keys to stop singing in the stadium? I can’t do that,” Clattenburg later revealed in an interview shared by Goal.
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The tension followed Clattenburg as he led the teams out.
“As I’m walking up the steps in San Siro, the balls are on the plinth and all I’m thinking to myself is: don’t drop that ball,” he admitted.
Once underway, the final lived up to its billing. Ramos himself opened the scoring, Atlético hit back through Yannick Carrasco but Real Madrid won the game 5–3 on penalties.
Watch the interview below:
Sergio Ramos wanted Mark Clattenburg to end Alicia Keys’ Champions League final performance early 😩 pic.twitter.com/oluZaFhvg9
— GOAL (@goal) September 30, 2025
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