"Antony's action is not a red card action, it does not endanger the safety of the opponent"

The red card Antony received in extra time in Getafe-Betis was not decisive in the outcome of the Betis victory at the Coliseum, but it will affect the week leading up to the match against Madrid on Saturday at the Benito Villamarín stadium. The Brazilian is one of the Betis' main assets in the current campaign and hence the importance of his performance against one of the strongest teams in the championship, a showcase to show off his performances now in this renewed period on loan at Heliopolis from Manchester United. And with the attention that Antony is attracting, the analysis of the play has been constant and most refereeing specialists in the media agree that the red card was excessive for the tackle he made on Juan Iglesias with the match almost over.

Mateu Lahoz spoke on Movistar, who was clear that the expulsion was perfectly avoidable and did not understand why Alberola Rojas did not use the VAR. "On the field you can make a mistake and the tackle may seem spectacular, but for it to be serious rough play you have to see the point of contact. It seems that it is almost more dangerous for Antony himself because he hits Juan Iglesias' studs with his instep and shin," he initially pointed out.

"Something that surprises us is that the assistant is the one who calls the referee to give the red card. And it is striking because the assistant never looks down, he let himself be carried away by Antony's impetus. Here, using the VAR was very easy to have offered the help to see that this action is not a red card because it never endangers the physical integrity of the opponent," confirmed the former Valencian referee.

Meanwhile, Pavel Fernández , on Gol Play, stated that "it is true that it is from behind and without the option of reaching the ball, but I think that a little more is needed to send a player to the showers before the 90th minute. The VAR does not consider it an error..."

For his part, Estrada Fernández , in El Desmarque, stated that "for me it can never be a red card. I can understand that Antony's dive is interpreted as such. This is not a rough attack. I understand that these are quick situations, but the VAR is there to review it. Antony never hits with his studs, but with his shin. Even if there was an impact, it would be violent play and there would be a greater sanction. The committee will go by what they have put in the report. And then the issue of intensity and for me it never puts the physical integrity of the Getafe player at risk. I think they will uphold the sanction. The referees know what games there are after the one they play," he said, recalling that the next match is Betis - Madrid.

Finally, Iturralde González , on Cadena Ser, did not share the same opinion as the rest of his fellow analysts. The former Basque referee stated that "it is a red card action. Are we going to reward aim? The problem with the rules is that they look at the way you enter. Do you think you could fight for the ball? You enter from behind and it touches his leg a little. And I add what Juan de Dios Román, a legend of Spanish handball, said: Don't give the referee the chance to make a mistake."