The red mist descended during Argentina’s Trophy of Champions final as TEN players were sent off during Boca Juniors’ defeat to Racing.
Referee Facundo Tello, who is set to take charge of several games during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar this month, was a busy man as tempers boiled over during a fiery encounter which saw Racing run out 2-1 victors after extra time. The carnage began just a few minutes before the end of normal time when Sebastian Villa of Boca and Racing’s Johan Carbonero were given their marching orders.
The pair clashed after Boca demanded a spot kick for an apparent handball in the area. Carbonero didn’t take too well to the suggestion and sparked a rammy in which several players got involved. The two instigators were dismissed, but all hell broke loose during the extra half-an-hour. Alan Varela was shown a second yellow on 105 minutes in what was perhaps the tamest of the orderings off in comparison. But when Racing scored a latter, winner, things really kicked off.
Carlos Alcaraz headed home to send the Estadio La Pedrera wild. However, his overzealous celebrations did the same to Racing’s opponents, who reacted by grabbing his ear, throwing the ball at him and generally getting in his face for having the cheek to celebrate a last-gasp cup final winner.
Naturally, Alcaraz’s teammates jumped to his defence with only referee Tello remaining calm. After the players decided to stop with the handbags, the man in the middle got to work, sending off five Boca players: Luis Advincula, Carlos Zambrano, Diego Gonzalez, Frank Fabra, and Dario Benedetto.
Racing lost two of theirs with goalscorer Alcaraz and Jonathan Galvan being sent packing. That took the sendings off total to ten before the final whistle eventually blew. Who knows how long it would have taken for Scottish Premiership referees to sort out as VAR tried to identify the culprits?
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