FC Barcelona are getting back to good sporting form in La Liga as the Catalans were able to get the full three points in their last two games. The 3-1 victory against Alaves in their last match was a comfortable victory for the Azulgrana, but this match was still marred by an undesirable event.
In the 72nd minute of the match, the referee, Martinez Munuera, showed Vitor Roque the second yellow card of the night, which resulted in his expulsion, and as things stand, he is also suspended for the upcoming tie against Granada.
Barcelona believe that the action for which the second yellow card was shown to Roque did not deserve a booking particularly as there was no contact made by the Brazilian on Rafa Marin. As a result, the Catalans have decided to appeal against the yellow card to get Roque’s suspension overturned.
Mundo Deportivo has noted a precedent that goes clearly in favor of Barcelona in this case. Only in the last month, in the match between Valencia and Cadiz, Javier Hernandez was shown a yellow card in the 87th minute. As the referee, Diaz de Mera, stated in his report, this caution was for “recklessly knocking down an opponent in the dispute for the ball.”
Cadiz appealed against this yellow card, and provided video evidence showing that Hernandez had not hit the Valencia player. The Competition Committee was convinced by the evidence provided by Cadiz, and the yellow card was rescinded.
In regards to Roque’s yellow card, the referee had also described it as “for recklessly hitting an opponent’s leg with his foot.” However, if Barcelona provides enough evidence showing that no contact took place between Roque’s foot and Marin’s leg, they have precedent in their favor to get the second yellow card rescinded.
