- Antony’s red card has been overturned and he is free to play Real on Saturday
- Real Madrid add the ruling to their ever-growing list of slights against officialdom
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Can INEOS really be judged after 12 months
Real Madrid are reportedly furious that Manchester United loanee Antony will be available for Real Betis’ La Liga match against Real Madrid on Saturday after winning an appeal against a red card.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are in the midst of a thrilling LaLiga title race, sitting level on points with great rivals Barcelona at the top of the table.
Their next league assignment is a tricky trip to Seville to face Real Betis who are seventh in the table. Man United flop Antony has become a key man for the Andalusian club since moving there on loan last month.
On Sunday, he made his sixth start in a row for his new team and he set up Isco’s opening goal to make it three goals and two assists in those matches.
However, his evening ended on a sour note when was sent off in the 94th minute of his side’s 2-1 victory for recklessly lunging to clip Juan Iglesias’ heels from behind as the Getafe played the ball back to his own keeper.
Antony immediately tried to plead his innocence by waving a finger in the referee’s direction but Javier Alberola Rojas swiftly removed the red card from his back pocket and raised it above the Brazilian.
Real Betis loanee Antony will no longer be suspended for Saturday’s clash with Real Madrid
The Brazilian, on loan from Man United, flew into a wild challenge on Getafe’s Juan Iglesias
He was banned for one game but Betis successfully appealed against the suspension to LaLiga.
This has provoked, according to AS, an extrordinary reponse from Real Madrid who are still reeling in indignation over the ban handed to Jude Bellingham for verbally abusing ref Jose Luis Munuera Montero.
As Real prepared for Wednesday night’s Cup del Rey semi-final first-leg clash with Real Sociedad, a source told the Spanish outlet: ‘It can’t be, in their eagerness to go hunting against Madrid they are even skipping the legal arguments. Removing a red card that has been clearly assessed by the refereeing body and well explained in the report is as if the referees from now on are going to re-referee the matches.
‘They don’t hold back, they have done it with the desire to hurt us. They have declared war on us and used all imaginable means, even if they expose the very referees that they claim to defend so much.
‘In 24 hours we have witnessed what we can call a hunt for everything that smells of Real Madrid. First, they set us an awful time for the game against Villarreal so that we have less rest than Barça and Atleti and thus favour a bad result there; then (Javier) Tebas loses respect for our coach who is a blessing, respected by everyone except the president of the Liga and vice president of the Federation; and now, the thing with Antony.
‘They attack us by land, sea and air. They don’t hold back. Even so, we will fight to the end with pride. We will not bow our heads in the face of such foolishness.’
Real Madrid are still reeling in indignation over the ban handed to Jude Bellingham
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are level on points with Barcelona at the top of the LaLiga table
Just last week, LaLiga president Tebas dismissed Real Madrid’s complaints about alleged bias from referees. He even went so far as to label the club ‘whiny’ and to accuse them of crying conspiracy.
He said: ‘We have had a lot of controversy over refereeing in recent weeks. The federation is not looking for a solution. Real Madrid TV, Real Madrid, is creating controversy and writing a false story and putting all football into question.
‘All the clubs complain, but Madrid puts the spotlight on it. It is an aggressive, verbal and manipulated story. I know many Real Madrid fans who do not agree with Real Madrid, which is a whiny club, it cries all day long.
‘They cry for the weekend, they will cry for the following weekend and it is all the fault of a conspiracy.’
