The Real Madrid defender sliced Portu in injury time, sending his opponent to hospital.
This gesture was clearly not necessary. While Real Madrid brought this astonishing Girona team, La Liga leaders, back to earth at the kick-off, Nacho made a very nasty mistake in added time. His team led 3-0, and the match was therefore over, but the Spanish full-back cut Portu in midfield, while the attacking midfielder went on a counter-attack.
Curiously, the referee initially showed the yellow card, but the VAR logically decided to intervene. After consulting this slow motion, which was quite terrible, Mr. Pulido took out the necessary red. Nacho’s leg is very high, first at the height of Portu’s knee then on his ankle, and above all the ball has passed for a long time.
🇪🇸 #LALIGA
😲🟥 Nacho EXPELLED after this killer tackle on Portu!
⚡ Electric end to the match between Real Madrid and Girona!#GironaRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/Ekpm5ZvBG2— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) September 30, 2023
“A criminal tackle”
“This is a criminal tackle, which cannot be allowed on a football pitchestimates the former arbitrator Mr. Itturalde Gonzalez, consultant for AS and Ser. This is the hardest tackle in the last five years. » Portu was evacuated on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to hospital, but tests revealed no fractures.
Nacho reacted on social networks, and assures that he did not intentionally hurt his opponent. “I would like to apologize to Portu for an unintentional action during the match, he wrote on Instagram. Today and throughout my career, I never intended to harm anyone. I hope you can recover well and quickly. »
