Champions League star left stunned after being handed red card… for asking for opponent to be booked
MONACO were left in disbelief after their player was sent off for asking an opponent to be booked.
The Ligue 1 had fallen behind during their Champions League play-off first-leg game against Benfica just after half-time after a sumptuous chip from Vangelis Pavlidis.
A challenge from Alvaro Fernandez on Breel Embolo in the 52nd minute then saw things go from bad to worse for the home side.
With ex-Manchester United defender Fernandez on a yellow card by this point, Monaco wanted to try and take advantage of the foul by reminding Italian referee, Maurizio Mariani.
Midfielder Moatasem Al-Musrati was chief among the culprits to do so as he was shown to be wagging his right hand at the ref in the gesture of showing a card.
Mariani then brandished a yellow card but to the 28-year-old instead of the fouling player.
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Al-Musrati, who had been booked in the 41st minute, appeared to be baffled by the decision as his Monaco team-mates then protested against it.
It was a very unfortunate end to the Libya international's Champions League debut following a loan transfer from Besiktas to Monaco in the winter transfer window.
But IFAB rules state a yellow card can be awarded to a player who: "Argues with the referee or other match official (verbally or by making gestures)."
The sending-off meant Monaco failed to get a vital goal back against the visitors to take to the second leg.
Monaco boss Adi Hütter and left-back Krépin Diatta both felt the decision was unfair, with the manager also moaning about a late yellow for Denis Zakaria which rules him out of the second leg.
Hütter said: "I didn’t see him walk to the referee. The only thing what he said maybe was ‘It could be a yellow card.'
"Yes these are the rules we have to accept, but he was not aggressive right?
"And when you see the second yellow card of Zakaria, he is suspended. These are harsh yellow cards."
Diatta said: "I think everyone saw for themselves.
"He wasn't angry and he was calm toward the referee. Sometimes it's too severe."
The second leg will be played on Tuesday 18.