UEFA have collared Dani Carvajal after the full-back was adjudged to have gotten himself deliberately booked during the latter stages of Real Madrid’s penultimate Champions League group stage tie against Apoel Nicosia.
Carvajal was shown a yellow card for time-wasting in the 90th minute of the 6-0 victory in Cyprus, a result that saw, A) Real secure themselves a place in the next round and, 2) Carvajal ruled out of the final group game against Dortmund rather than a subsequent knockout game.
However, UEFA were quick to catch wind of the 25-year-old’s little ploy and have now suspended him for a further match.
The relevant statement read thus:
The UEFA control, ethics and disciplinary body has decided to suspend the Real Madrid CF player Dani Carvajal for two Uefa competition matches for which he would be otherwise eligible.
Given that Carvajal did not participate in the match Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund played on 6 December, 2017, the player still has to serve one Uefa competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible.
The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League is now due to take place on Monday, with Real facing possible matches against PSG, Man City, Manchester United and Liverpool – the first leg of which they will be Carvajal-less for.
Cheats never usually prosper, but not this time.