Real stars slam red card

Real Madrid’s Champions League exit to Bayern Munich on April 15 turned into a public fight over Eduardo Camavinga’s late red card, with teammates calling the decision a “joke.” (espn.com) Camavinga, a substitute, was sent off in the 86th minute at the Allianz Arena after referee Slavko Vinčić showed him a second yellow card with the tie level at 4-4 on aggregate and the score 3-2 to Madrid on the night. Bayern then scored through Luis Díaz three minutes later and Michael Olise with the last kick to win 4-3 and go through 6-4 on aggregate. (espn.com) Jude Bellingham said the dismissal was “a joke” as he left the mixed zone, and Antonio Rüdiger said, “It’s better not to talk,” before asking reporters if they had seen the red card. Coach Álvaro Arbeloa said the referee “didn’t even know” Camavinga was already on a booking. (espn.com) The argument centers on a basic rule: two yellow cards in one match become a red card, and Camavinga’s second caution was given for delaying the restart by holding the ball after a foul. Madrid’s complaint is not about the rule itself, but about whether that action, in that moment, merited a second booking that changed the tie. (sports.yahoo.com) This landed in the biggest match of Madrid’s season so far. Bayern had already won the first leg 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu on April 7, so Madrid arrived in Munich needing a comeback just to reach the semi-finals. (uefa.com) Madrid nearly pulled it off. Arda Güler scored after 35 seconds and added a free kick later in the first half, while Kylian Mbappé also scored before the game swung again late. (espn.com) Bayern’s side has been blunt in response. One Bayern view, carried after the match, was that Camavinga had already handled the ball earlier and should have “just leave it and walk away,” while Harry Kane said the red was deserved. (sports.yahoo.com; sports.yahoo.com) The fallout did not stop with the whistle. ESPN reported that Arda Güler was also sent off at full time for remonstrating with officials, underscoring how quickly Madrid’s frustration spread from the touchline to the tunnel. (espn.com) Bayern now move on to the Champions League semi-finals, while Madrid are left arguing over an 86th-minute booking that their own players say decided the night. (uefa.com; espn.com)