Spanish media decry 'injustice' after Camavinga red card in Madrid defeat
Spanish media outlets have reacted with fury to the late red card shown to Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich. The 23-year-old was sent off in the 86th minute by Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić for a second yellow card, deemed for time-wasting after he moved the ball following a foul on Harry Kane. The decision, which reduced Madrid to ten men while they trailed 4-3 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate, has been labelled an "injustice" and an "attempted murder of football" by prominent Madrid-based publications.
Marca led its Thursday edition with the headline "What an injustice!" and argued in an accompanying article that while Camavinga was wrong to touch the ball, "sending off a player for something like that is an attempted murder against football." Rival newspaper AS was similarly critical, stating, "Real Madrid led on the scoreboard three times, but finally gave way after an action of genius from Vinčić that reduced them to ten. An incredible expulsion for Camavinga."
The incident has also drawn criticism from former La Liga referee Iturralde González, who analysed the match for Cadena Ser. "Moving the ball or taking it away after a foul can warrant a warning," González said. "But at this level, you cannot leave a team with ten men for that. It's absurd! How can you send off a player? He only moved the ball four meters... Vinčić mishandled the situation." The dismissal capped a dramatic night at the Allianz Arena where Madrid, despite leading three times, ultimately fell to a 4-3 defeat, exiting the competition 6-5 on aggregate.
The controversy comes just a day after Barcelona voiced similar complaints over officiating following their own Champions League elimination at the hands of Atlético Madrid, leaving the latter as Spain's sole representative in the semi-finals. The focus on Vinčić's performance is expected to be intense, with González quipping that compilations of the referee's decisions will soon feature on Real Madrid's in-house television channel.
For Camavinga, the red card marks an unfortunate end to a European campaign where he has been a versatile and important component of Carlo Ancelotti's midfield. Since joining Real Madrid from Rennes in 2021, the French international has developed into a key player, known for his energy and technical ability. The incident, however, will not carry over into domestic play as the suspension applies only to UEFA competitions.
The fallout underscores the heightened emotions and scrutiny surrounding refereeing decisions at the pinnacle of European club football, with Madrid's exit ensuring a semi-final lineup without either of Spain's two biggest clubs for the first time since 2020. Bayern Munich will now face Paris Saint-Germain in the last four.
