Tactical booking may cost Ramos

– Uefa has launched a disciplinary investigation that could rule Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos (right) out of a potential Champions League quarterfinal, first leg after he admitted getting booked on purpose in Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Ajax Amsterdam.

With Real 2-1 up in the last-16 first leg, Ramos was shown a yellow card in the 89th minute, his third booking of the European campaign which means he will be suspended from the second leg of the tie in the Spanish capital on March 5.

Should the holders progress to the quarterfinals, Ramos would then have a clean slate for the final stretch of Europe’s elite competition, which his side have monopolised since 2016.

But in an extraordinary postmatch interview, Ramos said he intentionally got booked against Ajax, which breaks Uefa’s rules and is punishable with an extra one-match suspension.

“Looking at the result I would be lying if I said it wasn’t intentional,” Ramos told reporters.

“It’s something I was thinking about, it’s not to underestimate the opponent nor say the tie is over but in football you have to take difficult decisions so I decid-

Amsterdam

ed to do it.”

European football’s governing body said on Thursday that it had launched a disciplinary investigation “in connection with the statements made” by Ramos.

The Spain international, who was playing his 600th game for his club, later attempted to change his comments with two posts on Twitter in which he regretted getting suspended for the second leg.

“I want to make it clear that this hurts me more than it would hurt anyone, I did not get the yellow card on purpose,” he said.

Ramos’ team-mate Dani Carvajal was punished by Uefa last season for intentionally getting booked in a group stage game at APOEL Nicosia.

The fullback was charged by Uefa’s disciplinary committee for “receiving a yellow card on purpose” and was suspended for their final group game against Borussia Dortmund and their last-16 first leg against Paris St Germain.

Uefa added that Ajax had been charged over their supporters’ throwing of objects, setting off of fireworks and display of an “illicit banner” by fans. Real were charged after their fans also set off fireworks. – Reuters