In case you missed it – Villarreal vs. Real Madrid [2012-03-21, Liga jornada 29, 1-1].
I don’t even know where to begin with this game. Was it really a game? Because it turned into a spectacle towards the end. Anyway, between another late goal scored on a free kick to tie the game, several costly errors (how frustrating!) and bad behavior (which I hate seeing from my team!!!!!), we dropped another two points, for which we are to blame. And then of course there was everything that happened with the referee… was it any wonder that all of us were left looking like Sami, Xabi and Gonzalo here?
The referee’s match report looked like this. As you can see, there were many “x”s in the yellow and red card columns…
… and the part of the report about incidences was quite long. Let’s take a look at what happened.
Players – Bookings.
Lass, Xabi and Sami also received yellows, but for things that happened while the ball was in play, so I won’t include those here.
In the 44th minute, the player Kepler Laveran De Lima Ferreira (3) was booked for the following reason: for simulating an act of aggression from a rival.
Pepe ended up with a bloody lip as a result of “simulating” the aggression (wow, he takes it so seriously!), which he showed to the referee. It didn’t matter, tarjeta. At the end of the first half, he once again went up to Paradas Romero to show him his bloody lip, to no effect.
In the 52nd minute, the player Sergio Ramos García (4) was booked for the following reason: for persistently infringing on the rules of the game.
In the 84th minute, the player Sergio Ramos García (4) was booked for the following reason: for pushing away a rival in dispute of the ball.
In the 90th minute, the player Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín (20) was booked for the following reason: for making observations about one of my decisions after the game had ended and while still on the playing field.
As you can see, Gonzalo was quite upset after the game and he made a beeline for the referee, with Pepe having to separate him from the refereeing team. As he was walking off the field, he had a few more choice words for Paradas Romero.
Players – Expulsions.
In the 84th minute, the player Mesut Özil (10) was expelled for the following reason: for mockingly applauding one of my decisions while standing very close to me.
I loved that Mesut continued applauding Paradas Romero as he left the field. Before reaching the tunnel, Mesut also told the crowd to be quiet, and it looked like he wanted to get into a fight with some of them. What do you think about aggressive Mes?
In the 84th minute, the player Sergio Ramos García (4) was expelled for the following reason: double yellow cards.
We had Álvaro Arbeloa trying to calm Sergio down, but really to no avail. According to Cuatro, what Sergio was shouting at Paradas Romero as he left was “you ruined the game, you ruined the game!”
Players – Other incidents.
Once the game was over and in the tunnel leading to the locker rooms, Real Madrid player with the number 3, D. Kepler Laverán De Lima Ferreira, came up to us shouting, “it’s daylight robbery, you son of a bitch!”
Seriously, Pepe needs to calm down.
Directors and coaches – Bookings/Expulsions/Other incidents.
In the 53rd minute, the coach Dos Santos Mourinho Felix, Jose Mario was booked for the following reason: for making observations about one of my decisions.
In the 82nd minute, the coach Dos Santos Mourinho Felix, Jose Mario was booked for the following reason: for leaving the technical area to make observations about one of my decisions.
In the 82nd minute, the coach Dos Santos Mourinho Felix, Jose Mario was expelled for the following reason: double yellow cards.
I wish we could find out what exactly Mou’s “observations” were! Cuatro’s cameras also caught José Mourinho shouting “Filho puta” at the referee.
By the way, Paradas Romero has sent Mou off before: this happened last season in the Copa game against Murcia on Nov. 10, 2010. The reason for the expulsion was presented as “he told me to piss off.”
The fitness coach of Real Madrid, D. Rui Filipe Da Cunha Faria, was expelled in the 49th minute for applauding one of my decisions from the bench.
Aitor Karanka couldn’t believe it. His expressions of disbelief, surprise and incredulity are quite amusing.
As a result, the tunnel got kind of crowded, between injured players (José Callejón), subbed out players (Lass), substitutes (Nuri), expelled players (Sergio) and assorted Real Madrid staff members.
And this was Xabi’s reaction. I love it, especially that little head shake of disappointment.
So, to sum up: there were four expulsions: Rui Faria, José Mourinho, Sergio Ramos and Mesut Özil. Sergio Ramos was expelled for two yellow cards, while Mesut was expelled for sarcastically applauding Paradas Romero. That was the same reason Rui Faria got himself expelled, while José Mourinho was sent off for making his opinion known to the referee. At the conclusion of the game, Gonzalo Higuaín went up to the referee and said something, earning him a yellow card. That was what happened during the game.
As for after the game, as Cristiano was leaving the field, La Sexta’s microphones caught him shouting, “only robbery, only robbery.” He had made what apparently are his “robbery” gestures earlier. There were also reports that Cris and Pepe kicked the sides of the tunnel as they headed back to the locker room and yelled insults at Villarreal’s security guards, directors and the referee. That was the point when Pepe shouted, “it’s daylight robbery, you son of a bitch,” for which he written up in the match report.
Then Madrid made the decision not to speak to the press after the game. Neither Mou nor Karanka showed up in the press room for the habitual post-game press conference, and none of the players stopped in the mixed zone to speak with journalists (video below). Sergio did stop to give Diego López a hug, Pepe signed a few autographs and Mou only said, “you all saw it, no? You all saw it?” in passing.
According to Marca (so take it with a grain of salt), it was because Mou had told them that if they wanted to speak to the press, they would have to complain about the referee, and the players didn’t want to do that. Also according to Marca, the captains reprimanded Cristiano, Pepe and Gonzalo Higuaín for their bad behavior, telling them “you can’t do this again, because you’ll be the one to lose from this and so will the team.”
And as you can see Cris, despite the silly positioned hat, made one woman’s day when she got his jersey autographed by the team, which she said she would give to her grandson the next day.
Only Marcelo spoke to broadcaster La Sexta at the conclusion of the game, before that decision had been made: “we’re doing our thing but sometimes the referees harm us. We have to continue working.”
The consequences.
Sergio is now the Real Madrid player with the most expulsions in the Liga, with 11. He surpassed Fernando Hierro, but it took Fernando 429 games (in 14 seasons) to reach this dubious number, compared to Sergio’s 221 games (in seven seasons). If Sergio continues at this rate, he’ll probably be the record holder for all of eternity.
Mesut, Sergio, Mou and Rui Faria will all be suspended for this Saturday’s game against Real Sociedad as a result of being sent off. In addition, Lass received his fifth yellow card against Villarreal and so he’ll have to sit out this game. Pepe was written up in the report, though not sent off, so he too will have to face the consequences. It’s now up to the Competition Committee to decide whether these persons will receive additional sanctions.
Pepe: according to RFEF regulations, Pepe could receive a sanction of anywhere from 4-12 games, based on Article 94 of the Disciplinary Code, which says that “insulting, offending or going up to the referee, assistants, fourth official, directors or sports authorities will be sanctioned with four to 12 games, unless it’s a more serious offense.” However, if the Committee decides to apply Article 117 – going up to referees, directors or sports authorities and slighting them or being inconsiderate will be sanctioned with a suspension for two to three games, or for a time period up to one month, unless it’s a more serious offense – then the sentence could be lighter.
Mesut: his case could fall under Article 117. However, if Article 114.1 is used, which says “a direct expulsion during the course of a game will carry a sanction of at least one game,” he’ll just get the one game for being sent off.
Sergio: he’ll likely receive the one-game suspension for the double yellow cards.
Mou: he’ll most likely receive just the one-game suspension for the double yellow cards.
Rui Faria: his case will probably fall under Article 117 and so he’ll receive a sanction of two to three games. However, since he is a repeat offender (this was his fourth expulsion in as many months), it’s probable that he’ll receive the maximum sentence.
Meanwhile, “the law of silence” continues, with no press conference scheduled today and the training session closed to the public. Usually, on days before games, either Mou or Karanka speaks to the press, who are also allowed to watch 15 minutes of the practice session.