UEFA investigates Sergio Ramos for forced card accumulation
Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos is being investigated by UEFA for an alleged forced suspension in the match against Ajax. Here’s a look at what happened and what this could mean.
Counting cards is a term often used in gambling games such as Black Jack and Poker but this practice is something that has carried into football but in a different fashion. Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos is now being put under the microscope for doing the same.
Reports suggest that Ramos purposely fouled Kasper Dolberg in the 89-minute to be shown a yellow card. That would be Sergio’s third card of the campaign resulting in a suspension.
Yellow Cards Earned by Sergio Ramos UCL 2019
- Roma – Group Stage
- Viktoria Plzen – Group Stage
- Ajax – Round of 16
In an interview with the media after the match, Ramos said that “I meant to force the foul, a foul that was inevitable; not to force the suspension. With that statement, it seemed he was in the clear but shot himself in the foot minutes later.
During the same interview, he mentioned that “That’s why I said that I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t know that I would be suspended, just as I knew that I had no choice but to make the foul.” While that statement seemed innocent, UEFA has looked at with a different eye.
"“A disciplinary inquiry has been opened in connection with the statements made by Real Madrid player Sergio Ramos.” -Statement from UEFA"
Unfortunately, Ramos’ track record gives UEFA probable cause to look at the incident. In 2013 Ramos was suspected of committing the same action against Galatasaray and against Ajax in 2010.
"49.04 Exceptionally, all yellow cards and pending yellow-card suspensions expire on completion of the play-offs. They are not carried forward to the group stage. In addition, all yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals. They are not carried forward to the semi-finals. -Official UEFA Rule Book"
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While the suspension is imminent as per the rules, UEFA could hand down and even heftier sentence. Last season Dani Carvajal received a two match suspension after UEFA ruled that defender purposely picked up a booking in the closing minutes of Madrid’s 6-0 over Apoel.
Real Madrid will face off against Ajax in the second at home with Ramos absent. The calculated decision removes the risk of Ramos missing the first leg of the quarter finals in the event Madrid progress on March 5.