February 27 – Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has been charged by UEFA with “receiving a yellow card on purpose” in the Champions League last-16 first leg with Ajax.
The Spanish international defender was yellow-carded in the 89th minute of Madrid’s 2-1 victory in Amsterdam, his third booking of the tournament which means he will be suspended from the second leg in the Spanish capital on March 5.
Had he been booked in the second leg instead, he would have automatically been ruled out of the first leg of the quarters.
Speaking immediately after the match, Ramos was quoted as saying he “would be lying” if he denied deliberately earning the booking. Realising he had got himself into deep water, he later attempted to backtrack with two posts on Twitter in which he stressed he had not intended to collect a caution.
But UEFA are having none of it and if found guilty when the case is dealt with by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on February 28, Ramos could be punished with an extended suspension.
Valencia midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia was recently handed out a two-match ban by UEFA after also being ruled to have deliberately received a caution during the Europa League win at Celtic.
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