Real Madrid boss Álvaro Arbeloa has fiercely criticised the sending-off of Eduardo Camavinga, insisting the decision derailed his side’s hopes in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich.
The dramatic second-leg clash turned on its head late in the game when Camavinga, introduced as a substitute, received two quick yellow cards and was dismissed with just four minutes remaining. With the tie delicately poised, Bayern capitalised on the numerical advantage, netting twice to secure a 4-3 victory on the night and a 6-4 aggregate triumph. The German giants now advance to face defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.
Camavinga’s second booking came after he was judged to have delayed play following a foul on Harry Kane, a decision that sparked outrage from the Madrid camp.
“It’s unbelievable that a player can be sent off for something like that in a match of this magnitude,” Arbeloa said. “We are furious really upset. This was a defining moment in our season.”
The Madrid coach went further in his post-match remarks, suggesting the referee may have lost track of the situation. “I honestly think the referee didn’t realise he had already booked him,” he said. “That decision destroyed what was an incredible game played at a very high level.”
Frustration spilled over among the players, with Jude Bellingham branding the call “a joke,” while Antonio Rüdiger declined to elaborate, saying only, “You saw what happened it’s better I don’t say more.”
On the opposing side, Luis Díaz defended the referee’s call, arguing that Camavinga had prevented a quick restart. “We wanted to take the free-kick quickly, but he held onto the ball,” Díaz explained. “In my opinion, the referee made the right decision.”
The defeat compounds a difficult campaign for Madrid, who now face the prospect of ending a second consecutive season without silverware. Arbeloa’s side currently trail league leaders Barcelona by nine points with just seven matches remaining in La Liga.