Germany’s 2-1 win over the United States could have been described as hard-fought, but some other teams took it one step further today.
Portugal and Chile literally came to blows as Portugal’s Rafael Leão punched Chile’s Iván Román after an altercation that two players had on the pitch.
Both players received red cards for the scrap. Portugal ultimately walked away with a 2-1 victory.
ESPN captured some frames of the early jostling:
This X account (@TouchlineX) had the connection from Leão on Román (good placement!):
Finally, Sky Sport had this shot as well, where the blow looks more openhanded than close-fisted, which could make a difference. Sky also laid out the potential disciplinary measures for the players involved:
Rafael Leão was sent off with a red card during the Portuguese national team’s friendly match against Chile for violent conduct. The AC Milan winger received the red card just before halftime because he repeatedly shoved his opponent Ivan Morales during a scrum and then knocked him to the ground with a punch to the face.🟥👊
ℹ️For the final World Cup preparation match on Wednesday against Nigeria, Leão is definitely suspended. In cases of suspensions for serious foul play or violent conduct, the ban can extend beyond test and friendly matches to also include official competitive games.
➡️In Leão’s case, that would be the World Cup. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which has significant discretion, will decide on the extent of the punishment.🏆🙅♂️❓
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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