Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has strongly criticised the decision to send off teammate Eduardo Camavinga, describing the red card as “a joke” following their dramatic Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.
Real Madrid were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League after a 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich in the second leg, which ended 6-4 on aggregate in favour of the German side. The match turned sharply in the closing stages after Camavinga was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 86th minute.
Camavinga, who had come on as a substitute only 24 minutes earlier, was booked for kicking the ball away and delaying a Bayern free-kick following a foul on Harry Kane. The decision left Real Madrid with 10 men at a crucial moment when the tie was still level.
Speaking briefly after the match while heading to the team bus, Bellingham did not hide his frustration. In comments to reporters, he called the decision unfair and shook his head, insisting the sending-off should not have happened.
The red card triggered strong reactions from across the Real Madrid camp. Several players confronted the referee both during and after the match, arguing that the decision changed the outcome of the game at a key moment.
Club captain Dani Carvajal, who was not on the pitch, was seen angrily protesting from the sidelines, while defender Antonio Rüdiger also questioned the decision but stopped short of direct criticism. Young forward Arda Güler later received a red card after reacting in frustration following the final whistle.
Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa said the dismissal had a major impact on the match, claiming it “ruined” what had been a closely contested encounter. He argued that the referee may not have realised Camavinga had already been booked when the second yellow card was shown.
Arbeloa also suggested that Bayern players played a role in drawing attention to the booking situation, adding that the decision changed the rhythm of a game that had been evenly balanced until that point.
The controversy overshadowed a thrilling match in Munich, where Bayern took advantage of the numerical superiority in the closing minutes. Late goals secured their place in the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain.
Bayern Munich winger Luis Díaz defended the referee’s decision, saying Camavinga’s action justified the second yellow card as it delayed a quick free-kick. He added that the sending-off gave Bayern momentum at a decisive moment.
Striker Harry Kane also acknowledged that the red card helped shift the balance, although he stressed that Bayern still had to finish the game strongly to secure victory.
European football’s governing body UEFA is expected to review the referee’s report before deciding if any further disciplinary action or clarification is needed regarding the incident.
The defeat ends Real Madrid’s hopes of adding another Champions League title to their record 15 trophies, and the controversy over Camavinga’s dismissal is likely to remain a major talking point in the aftermath of the tie.
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