That tactical booking really backfired
Sergio Ramos has been handed a two-match European ban after “clearly receiving a yellow card on purpose” during Real Madrid’s first leg knockout tie against Ajax in the Champions League.
He received a yellow card in the dying minutes of the game for a late tackle on Kasper Dolberg, ruling himself out of the second leg, and theoretically clearing his record for the remainder of the competition. With two away goals and a victory in the bag, it seemed like a calculated risk worth taking.
Alas, it was not, as Uefa have punished his cynical attempt at clearing his disciplinary record by banning him for the first leg of the quarter-final, assuming Madrid go through.
It probably didn’t help Ramos’ case when the 32-year-old admitted to reporters: “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t force [the booking]”.
Ramos later clarified this comment, explaining that he “was referring to forcing the foul, a foul that was inevitable. Not to force the booking.
“It was a very dangerous counter-attack in the 88th minute, with an open match and the tie as well.”
He added: “That’s why I said that I would lie if I said I did not know that I was carrying a penalty, just as I knew that I had no other choice than to make a mistake. And that’s what I meant when I said that in football you have to make complicated decisions.”
There are no easy draws in the last eight of the most esteemed club competition in the world. But Madrid will be hoping to avoid one of the favourites now that they’ll be without their captain and star defender for the first leg.
Knowing Ramos, Madrid will probably lose the first leg before pulling off a spectacular comeback in the second, with captain shithouse himself scoring the winner. That would just be so Ramos, wouldn’t it?
