Arbeloa: Red card 'ruined' contest

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said the decision to send off Eduardo Camavinga "ruined" Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal.

Substitute Camavinga picked up two yellow cards in quick succession to be dismissed with four minutes remaining. The French star's second yellow appeared to be shown for delaying the restart after he had fouled Harry Kane.

"It's unbelievable that you can send a player off for this action in a match like this," Arbeloa said.

"We feel really upset, really angry, really disappointed. This felt like a defining game in our season."

Speaking with Movistar, Arbeloa said the referee "ruined" the match by sending Camavinga off, claiming the official probably did not know he was already on a yellow.

"I think the referee didn't even know he had a booking, and so that's why he did it, but he's ruined a knockout tie, a match that, I think, was really beautiful, that was flying, that was at a fantastic level, and that's where the game ended."

Walking past reporters after the match, Real midfielder Jude Bellingham said the decision was "a joke", while Antonio Rudiger said "you saw the situation yourself — it's better not to speak".

Luis Diaz backed the referee's decision, saying Camavinga had prevented the host from launching an attack by holding onto the ball.

"I think the referee was right to send him off. We wanted to take the freekick quickly and he didn't release the ball," Diaz said.

AFP