In one of Indian football’s most bizarre incidents, FC Goa captain Iker Guarrotxena was shown a straight red card in the tunnel moments before his team’s AIFF Super Cup semifinal against Mumbai City FC on Thursday.
The extraordinary dismissal occurred at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao as players prepared to walk onto the pitch. Referee Pratik Mondal issued the red card to the Spanish forward for dissent after an argument over kit compliance.
The Incident
It is understood that Guarrotxena was first instructed to change his inner shorts, which were deemed to clash with the colours of both teams’ kits. His protest against this instruction led to the immediate red card.
“Everybody saw what he did,” referee Pratik Mondal was heard repeating as Guarrotxena attempted to plead his case.
Reaction from the Camp
FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez expressed his frustration, revealing he learned of the sending-off just moments before the match.
“I saw the referee ask him to change and I thought it would be sorted. I left for the pitch, and two minutes later, someone said Iker is sent off,” Marquez stated. “To show a red card for this is a little too much. The problem now is we won’t have Iker for the final.”
Since the dismissal occurred before kick-off, Goa were permitted to replace Guarrotxena in the starting lineup. Javier Siverio was hurriedly introduced, and Borja Herrera took over the captain’s armband.
“I have never seen anything like this in my life,” said Herrera. “I prefer not to speak more on this. They [the management] will look into it.”
A Rare Occurrence
Send-offs before a match are exceptionally rare in football. A notable precedent includes former French international Patrice Evra, who was sent off while on the bench for Marseille in a 2017 Europa League match after an altercation with a supporter.
Overcoming Adversity
Despite the shocking start, FC Goa rallied to secure a 2-1 victory over Mumbai City, booking their place in the final against East Bengal on Sunday.
After the match, Guarrotxena was seen in a lengthy discussion with match commissioner Goculdas Xiva Nagvencar. His suspension for the final now presents a significant challenge for the Gaurs as they prepare for the title decider.
