Photo: Marcos Brindicci / Getty Images
A spicy classic played by Argentina and Brazil this Tuesday at the San Juan Stadium. Although the duel ended tied at zero, the controversial plays were not lacking. The most notorious was starred by the central Nicolás Otamendi , who knocked down the attacker Rapinha with his elbow and did not receive a yellow card .
The moment occurred at 34 ′. Otamendi took the ball from his rival inside the area, but he did not give up and put pressure on the Argentine immediately, reaching to touch the ball to send it out of the field.
The Argentine defender crossed with force and let his right elbow out for a walk , which violently hit Raphinha’s face , who fell to the ground. Three seconds later Otamendi lifts the Brazilian off the ground , trying to save himself and for the play to continue fast, as finally happened.
Neither the VAR reviewed the play. It was direct red. Rapinha even bled from the blow. “Go on, go on,” applied the referee. The game ended with 41 combined fouls and seven yellow cards.