Sergio Ramos won't be suspended for Champions League semifinals (Update)
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos will be available for the Champions League semifinals after all.
Reports Wednesday indicated that Ramos would be suspended for the first leg of the semis … for his actions while serving a separate suspension during the quarterfinals. UEFA, however, has decided against punishing the 32-year-old Spanish center back.
Ramos missed Wednesday’s second leg victory over Juventus due to yellow card accumulation after being booked in the first leg. He watched from the stands in street clothes. But in the frantic final minutes, with Madrid having thrown away a three-goal lead, Ramos came down from his seat to field level.
He was shown by TV cameras right outside the tunnel at the Santiago Bernabeu, in between the two teams’ benches, late in the game:
And for that, he could have been in trouble. Players in the past have had suspensions extended for similar actions.
Ramos will get a match ban and miss the first leg of the semis for watching some of the game in the tunnel being suspended. Nobody from the club told him he couldn't do that https://t.co/vuhScNzQ8Y
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) April 11, 2018
UEFA’s regulations specify that a suspended player cannot enter the field of play or the tunnel before or during a match. Ramos may or may not have been on the field. But he seemed to be communicating with Real Madrid players or staff during the game, and at one point appeared to get in an argument with Juventus manager Max Allegri. And he clearly had entered the tunnel.
But UEFA has let Ramos and Real Madrid off the hook – though it’s not exactly clear why.
Real Madrid drew Bayern Munich in the semifinals, and will travel to the Allianz Arena for the first leg on Wednesday, April 25.
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Henry Bushnell covers global soccer, and occasionally other ball games, for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at henrydbushnell@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell.
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