Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos insists that Scottish referee Craig Thomson dismissed him needlessly in the 4-0 victory over Ajax on Wednesday evening.
The Spanish international was given his marching orders in injury time for time-wasting, and his colleague Xabi Alonso also saw red moments beforehand, prompting a UEFA investigation into accusations that the players deliberately picked up bans in order to wipe their card record for the knockout stages.
However speaking to the media, Ramos insisted that there was no ulterior motive to his removal, despite Iker Casillas apparently relaying a message from the bench moments before he was sent from the field.
He remarked:
“When I spoke to Iker during the game, it had nothing to do with cards. The result for us was comfortable, and because we were down to 10 men after Xabi Alonso's expulsion, I tried to waste time in order to conclude the match.
“The referee, knowing what would happen when he booked me, could have kept his card.”雖則好明顯係為左洗底
但我覺得冇乜特別喎,為左洗底拎多張牌呢d經常性出現架啦