(VIDEO) Sergio Ramos Elbows Young Player Who Called Him His Idol
A high-intensity match unfolded between Pumas and Monterrey, where Sergio Ramos received his first red card in Liga MX—an incident that drew strong criticism from Pumas head coach Efraín Juárez.
What Did Efraín Juárez Say About Sergio Ramos?
The Mexican coach claimed that the former Real Madrid defender elbowed Pablo Bennevendo, an action he believes should have resulted in an earlier ejection:
"I won’t answer any questions about the officiating, but one thing that leaves me beyond frustrated and saddened is this: I have spent much of my career abroad, and I know that foreigners are expected to be role models and upstanding professionals. We need to protect our Mexican football."
"I believe their center-back should have been sent off in the 20th minute. No matter who he is, he should set an example. If one of our players had done the same, he would have been sent off in the 20th minute, not the 90th," he added.
Juárez also pointed out: "There are things that simply don’t belong in the game. He elbowed a young player who had said just a day earlier that Ramos was his idol. That’s something I won’t stand for because it doesn’t belong in football, and everyone knows exactly who I’m talking about."
Sergio Ramos’ Red Card Incident
In the final minutes of the match, with seven minutes of stoppage time, Sergio Ramos lost his composure and, staying true to his intense and aggressive style, kicked Guillermo "Memote" Martínez off the ball. Referee Ismael Rosario López immediately showed a straight red card, leaving Monterrey one man down in the dying moments of the game.
Although some considered the red card harsh, the reality is that Ramos played on the edge throughout the match. In the first half, the former Sevilla and Real Madrid star had already been involved in controversy, throwing a punch at Pablo Bennevendo’s face—a foul that neither the referee nor VAR deemed worthy of punishment.