Sergio Ramos is facing a potential extended suspension from UEFA after admitting he deliberately received a yellow card during Real Madrid’s Champions League win over Ajax on Wednesday evening.
Karim Benzema put Madrid in front in the second half following an excellent run from Vinicius Junior but Ajax pulled level through Hakim Ziyech.
The Champions League holders left it late but head into the second leg with the advantage as Marco Asensio’s goal in the 87th minute secured a 2-1 victory.
But two minutes later, Ramos received a yellow card which means he will now miss the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu but will be available for the quarter-final if Madrid qualify for the last eight.
Ramos, however, has risked extending his one-game ban by admitting after the match that his yellow card was premeditated.
"Yes, the truth is that seeing the result… it’s something I had in mind," Ramos said after the game.
"It is not to underestimate the opposition but sometimes you have to make tough decisions."
In 2017, Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal intentionally received a yellow against APOEL and UEFA extended his ban to two games.
While in 2010, Ramos and Xabi Alonso were fined by UEFA and Jose Mourinho received a one-match touchline ban after the Portuguese told the two players to get themselves sent off in a group-stage clash against Ajax.