Vitor Roque won’t take any part in Barcelona’s La Liga clash with Granada on Sunday, having been dismissed against Alaves last weekend for two yellow cards. The second one was especially controversial, as replays showed that he barely touched Rafa Marin, but despite this, the two appeals that were launched by the Catalan side were both rejected.
Roque was furious at being sent off, and as he told MD, he’s very disappointed at the appeals being rejected, meaning that he cannot continue his good recent form.
“I think the yellow card was unfair, at least the second one, and now I have to serve a penalty. It was the referees’ decision, Barcelona tried to appeal in every way, so I have no choice but to serve a ban and prepare for the next game.
“I wanted to be on the pitch to help my teammates as I had been helping, but now I have to keep my head calm and keep working.”
Roque also revealed what referee Juan Martinez Munuera told him upon being shown a second yellow card for the challenge on Marin.
“He told me, ‘It’s not like Brazil here.’ He said that, that this is not like Brazil, that it wasn’t a foul and I just respected the decision and left the field.”
Barcelona will hope not to miss Roque too much when they face Granada at Montjuic. It could be a big weekend for Xavi Hernandez’s side, with Real Madrid and Girona facing off in the 1st vs 2nd clash on Saturday.
”Even the officials should know how to utter or approach players amicably,” I think that will alleviate any form of misconceptions and controversies between both parties.
Complaining about referees is not something I do a lot. The last time I did it was with Soto Grande’s performance in the first game of the season against Getafe, and Soto Grande was actually suspended for his showing that day.
In the case of Victor Roque, the referee had his back to the play AND DID NOT EVEN SEE WHAT HAPPENED, yet gave the card anyway and disqualified the player. Watch it for yourself if you don’t believe me. Unbelievable, and I’m not surprised that Roque was shocked by the decision.
The fact that the appeal was overturned is a joke. It was the wrong call, made by a referee that didn’t even see what happened. Did it change the outcome? Not at all. Should Roque be suspended? Also, not at all.