Real Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos, has been given a two-game ban by UEFA “for clearly receiving a yellow card on purpose” during his side’s Champions League tie at Ajax two weeks ago.
Ramos fouled Kasper Dolberg in the 89th minute, with Madrid leading 2-1. It means he is suspended for the last-16 second leg tie at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Spain defender told reporters afterwards that he would “be lying if I said I didn’t force the booking”.
He later clarified his post-match comment, saying: “I was referring to forcing the foul, a foul that was inevitable. Not to forcing 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.”
The European football governing body opened an investigation into the incident, and gave an additional one-match ban for obtaining a booking deliberately.
By picking up a suspension at this stage, Ramos reduced the risk of missing a more important match later in the competition, as all bookings are cancelled after the quarter-final stage.
But should the defending champions progress to the last eight, Ramos would not be available for the first leg tie.
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