Europa League star high-fives referee for cancelling yellow card - then shown red instead

Football
15 Mar 2024 • 8:22 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

A Qarabag player tried to high-five referee Anthony Taylor during Thursday’s Europa League clash with Bayer Leverkusen thinking he’d been spared a yellow card - before being shown a red instead.

Elvin Cafarguliyev was initially booked for pulling back Jeremie Frimpong, before a VAR review upgraded it to a sending off, deeming it the denial of a goalscoring opportunity.

Initially happy to see Taylor cancel his yellow card, the defender’s excitement quickly turned to despair as a red was waved in his face.

Xabi Alonso’s side came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 on Thursday night to reach the tournament’s quarter-finals - winning the tie 5-4 on aggregate.