Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos given extra one-match ban after being charged by UEFA for deliberately getting booked against Ajax and will miss possible Champions League quarter-final first-leg
- UEFA has handed Sergio Ramos an extra one-match ban for a deliberate booking
- He has now picked up quarter-final suspension he thought he had avoided
- Ramos received yellow card for cynical foul in last-16 Champions League tie
- Real Madrid take 2-1 advantage into return leg after victory in Amsterdam
Sergio Ramos will be banned for an extra Champions League game after UEFA found the Real Madrid captain guilty of deliberately being booked.
The Spaniard picked up a late yellow card in the last-16 first-leg win over Ajax that ruled him out of the return match at the Bernabeu next week.
But he has now picked up a suspension for a possible quarter-final first-leg tie that he had sought to avoid.
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos
Ramos (left) appeared to get himself booked for a challenge on Ajax forward Kasper Dolberg
The Madrid captain got nowhere near the ball and was subsequently shown a yellow card
European football’s governing body charged the Spanish international under Article 15, which could lead to at least a two-match suspension.
Ramos was booked for a reckless foul on Ajax forward Kasper Dolberg in the 89th minute of the tie in Amsterdam earlier this month.
Real Madrid had put themselves in a commanding position in their last-16 tie after Marco Asensio scored with three minutes of normal time remaining, establishing a comfortable 2-1 lead.
Two away goals meant the reverse fixture on March 5 would likely be a straightforward affair for the European champions, and Ramos appeared to consult the substitutes’ bench about attempting to get booked.
He was caught by Golazo de Gol making a subtle card gesture during his interaction – and he appeared to ask: ‘Should I look for it?’
The yellow card was Ramos’ third in this season’s Champions League, meaning he would have served a one-game suspension in the second leg and be free to play in the quarter-final, which would likely be a tougher test.
It appeared Ramos consulted with the bench about deliberately trying to get a yellow card
Moments after that interaction, Ramos prevented a counter-attack by the Dutch side with a reckless foul on Dolberg.
Ramos originally seemed furious with the Danish striker but his anger completely dissipated the moment the card was brandished.
After the match, Ramos appeared to concede that he did try to get himself booked on purpose – drawing the wrath of UEFA.
‘Not to underestimate the opponent, but sometimes you have to take these decisions and that’s what I decided,’ he said in a post-match interview with El Chiringuito TV.
He could face at least a two-match ban for the incident when UEFA meet on February 28
But he later attempted to clarify his stance, posting on Twitter: ‘In a game there are many tensions, many feelings and emotions and we have to make decisions in seconds,’ he wrote.
‘The best thing about today is the result and the worst is not being in the line-up with my teammates for the second leg.
‘I want to make it clear that it hurts me more than anyone and I haven’t forced a booking, just as I did not against Roma in my previous game in the Champions League.
‘I will support my teammates from the stands as a fan with the dream of being in the quarter-final.’
The case will be dealt with by UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on February 28.
