Red Card

There’s something about Ajax playing against London clubs that makes for can’t-miss television. Whether it’s Tottenham’s remarkable last-gasp win in the Champions League semifinals last season or Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic teeing up Michy Batshuayi late in the group stage a couple weeks ago, Ajax has provided English fans with more than a few memorable moments. 

Things are heating up in the Champions League (read: Real Madrid bottom of Group A) and there’s no surer sign of the increase in dramatics than managers getting booked. In a first for the Champions League, coaches can now be on the receiving end of both yellow and red cards from the match official, and although Match Day 1 of the competition came and went without history being made, Match Day 2 brought the moment we’d all been waiting for.

Leicester City was probably going to win anyway on Sunday at home to Newcastle, but an Isaac Hayden red card just before halftime all but ensured three points at the King Power Stadium.

Ricardo Pereira opened the scoring with a glorious solo run and Jamie Vardy netted twice as the Foxes ran away as 5-0 winners, jumping up to third place in the Premier League table.

Alexis Sanchez, lol.

Alexis Sanchez, the once-brilliant-now-enigmatic Chilean, got the hell out of Manchester with a loan move to rejoin Romelu Lukaku at Inter Milan. To say the former Udinese, Barcelona and Arsenal winger’s time at Manchester United was a disappointment would be like saying the Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” is kinda catchy. 

But given a new chance with a new club, back in the league where he first became a star, Alexis Sanchez made a massive immediate impact, for better and worse.

With last night’s 2-1 defeat to the New York Red Bulls at Audi Field, D.C. United’s chances of hosting a Conference Quarterfinal playoff game took a massive blow. The Red Bulls leapfrogged United in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with the victory, and any chance of a United win was effectively damned by Wayne Rooney’s straight red card in the 24th minute. 

Wayne Rooney Red Card Vs. NYRB

Following Video Review, Wayne Rooney is issued a red card.

Lionel Messi was not happy after his team was beaten by Brazil in the 2019 Copa América — so unhappy he suggested the match was rigged.

Messi will be even unhappier after being handed a three-month ban for his comments.

It was, if we’re being honest, one of the worst red cards ever given out. 

Lionel Messi was rammed into by Chile’s Gary Medel, who had been out for blood all match, and the Argentine merely held his ground. Nonetheless, Messi was sent off, just his second career red card since turning pro.