The referee in the Barcelona-Villarreal Copa del Rey semi-final second leg at El Madrigal has explained the reason for Tomas Pina’s dismissal.
David Fernandez Borbalan sent the Villarreal midfielder off midway through the second half following his two-footed lunge on Neymar, while Pina was also involved in an incident with Sergio Busquets five minutes before half time that resulted in the Barca man having to leave the field with an ankle injury.
“Pina was dismissed for bringing down an opponent from behind with both feet when the ball was not within a distance that was playable by him.
“The player brought down did not need assistance and was able to continue playing,” wrote Fernandez Borbalan in his match report, as reported by Sport.
Villarreal and Barcelona assistant coaches Juan Ruben Uria and Juan Carlos Unzue were also admonished in the 82nd minute for “mutual confrontation” although there were “no insults or threats involved”.
