This controversial Nani red card vs Real Madrid ( VIDEO BELOW) tilted the scales of Man Utd’s Round of 16 Champions League tie ( on March 5, 2013) in Real Madrid’s favour and saw Los Merengues snatch a come from behind 2-1 win at Old Trafford to progress 3-2 on aggregate. Nani was dismissed by Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir for an aerial challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa in the 56th minute, with United leading 1-0 at that stage
( Roy Keane comments on Nani red card)
Video- Nani sent off against Real Madrid
Man United 1-0 Real Madrid ( Nani red card v Real Madrid 56′)
Former United skipper Roy Keane caused consternation among United fans when he remarked that Cakir had done the right thing while analysing the game on television.
( Credits of this Nani sent off video with uploaders)
@Tony Did you even watch the replay or did you choose not to?! So a guy who stretches a leg out a you with the intention of kicking you has no malice!!!
I meant Ozzie. You actually got it Tony, just don’t understand why so many haven’t. They choose to see only what’s convenient to them.
Some people claim that “dangerous plays” are always a red card. However, that is not the case. Take a look at the official FIFA-rules. You’ll find no such thing. The closest you’ll find is “serious foul play”, which is defined as “if a player uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when challenging for the ball when it is in play”.
“Excessive force” you say? Think again. “Using excessive force? means that the player has far exceeded the necessary use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent.”
Two important words there: “far” and “and”.
There is simply no way that was a red card. I’m not one for conspiracies though: I don’t believe the ref was bought. He WAS however either biased or incompetent (even if he was overwhelmed by the moment or whatever, I still count that as being incompetent as a so called top referee). And not only because of that red card, but also because of the million yellow cards Ramos DIDN’T get for some reason.
Oh well, there’s worse things in life I guess. But it will always sting.
In Euro 2012, in the match between England and Ukraine, there happened a big mistake by the referee in favor of England, and the Ukrainian coach was complaining to the ref. The British commentator said: “Give it in!, Give it iiiiiiiinnnn!”. Now one should tell the same to Sir Alex: “Give it in!, Give it iiiinnnnnn!”.
Well, I hate to say it but I think this incident has probably sealed Nani’s fate at Man U. Going to be sad to see him go.
To all those who think that this is not a red card. You are incorrect in thinking that there should be intention. Reckless actions in footbal which may or may not touch an opponent are sanctioned. And the sanction can be a red card. This is how football is played. The ref is in my opinion perfectly legitimate in sanctioning the foul with a red card. BTW I am not a Man U fan.
When I saw the foul, I immediately thought of a possible red card.
I would bet that if Real Madrid was one up and with a red card they would have shut shop. Man U did not reorganise and this is why they lost. Blame the manager and the players for this one.
For me it’s not RED but YELLOW-it’s an unfortunate event and nani I believe went for the ball-why would such a player want to hurt somebody and do such a thing on purpose–?:(but RED CARD OR NO RED CARD I don’t like the game united played-with Rooney/kagawa/Valencia and Young on bench I don’t think ferguson got the right player-united lost this game not because of the red card but because of ferguson who did not put the right players–
close call and could have been not called, yellow or red. inconsistent officiating in the game. i got the feeling i was watching pro wrestling.
@Metalking
So you’re saying that on the gif at the top, on that replay where you see Nani from the side, colliding with Arbeloa and getting his leg pushed back due to having it pressing onto Arbeloa’s chest and then stretching it out to give him something that you could call a half kick, half push and all this after the ball having bounced off Arbeloa’s chest and already being off the scene, was an attempt from Nani to play a ball?!?!?! That shove from Nani that got Arbeloa spinning?!?!What ball was there to play??! I struggle to understand how can a lot of people not see something that is so blatantly obvious??
Why is Nani lying on the pitch some time after the incident ?? Is he injured ?? No, he knows that he has just made a big mistake. And if he is injured, then the ref might let him get away with it.
But no, the ref´s waiting until he´s getting up again – and shows him the red card.
A similar situation happened in the World Cup 1974 in a game between Germany and Chile. Carlos Caszely, Chile´s number 7, had made a nasty challenge on a German player. Afterwards he was pretending to be injured, but the referee (also turkish) called his bluff and let him get up. And then he showed him the red card. Brilliant 🙂 Watch the video at approximately 22 minutes and a bit further..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoH7w7zrQ9w
HELL NO!!!!!!!!!! That call was BULLSHIT!!!!! Nani didn’t even see him coming, his leg was already half way extended in the air before Arbeloa was even in close proximity of him! Nani couldn’t pull out of that challenge even if he wanted to! Laws of Physics people get with it. Anyways, there was no premeditation of thought to hurt Arbeloa because there was no fucking time for Nani to process it! If anyone is at guilt of premeditation it was Arbeloa. He was the one who ran into Nani, he was the one who could see exactly what was going on. I understand the whole “studs up- to chest” is a dangerous play but in this case it was not intentional on NANI’S part! If anything that was a really bad foul or a yellow card.
HELL NO!!!!!!!!!! That call was BULLSH*T!!!!! Nani didn’t even see him coming, his leg was already half way extended in the air before Arbeloa was even in close proximity of him! Nani couldn’t pull out of that challenge even if he wanted to! Laws of Physics people get with it. Anyways, there was no premeditation of thought to hurt Arbeloa because there was no fucking time for Nani to process it! If anyone is at guilt of premeditation it was Arbeloa. He was the one who ran into Nani, he was the one who could see exactly what was going on. I understand the whole “studs up- to chest” is a dangerous play but in this case it was not intentional on NANI’S part! If anything that was a really bad foul or a yellow card.
So in other words, it was Arbeloa´s fault that he ran into Nani´s leg and intentionally let it hit him in the chest, because he could see Nani and knew what he was going to do. Does that really make any sense at all to you ??
Sometimes you just have to admit that your player has made a mistake – but maybe that´s the whole part of being a Manchester United-supporter. It´s apparently always the opponent´s fault !!
@shame u said that we can only score against 10 men, man u only scored 1 goal over 2 legs. Lol dnt make me hurt ur feelings.
I actually did watch the match and at first I didn’t expect the red card, but after the replay there was no doubt that was a red card. Nani did see arbeloa and was fully aware that arbeloa was gonna challenge the ball, after arbeloa won the ball nani did push out his foot. After the collision nani dropped to the ground and pretended to be injured, ManU fans shud question that.
Some fans can be so ignorant.
I was at the game, and the atmosphere was electric. The red card changed the whole game. It was never a red, nani was tracking the ball the whole way, didn’t even see the player till it was too late, if the player wasn’t there and Nani controlled the ball, then it wouldn’t be high feet or dangerous play. The ref was obviously not able to handle the size of the game, it’s bad when the ref gets all the attention!!
Worst decision ever, he went for the ball, he did not see the b**tard arbeloa coming, arbeloa made drama out of nothing, poor Nani was sent of by the same ref that sent off terry and ballotelli
funfact..
there were 4 similar challenges so far in the champions.. 2 of them had identical impact as Nani’s redcard, and noone got a red, at most a yellow.
one of the worst offender (soccer shoes almost hitting the head of a player) got not even a foul call.
so the bias was absolutely clear.
Ferguson should admit that he has weak midfielders. a yaya toure-like midfielder is lacking.