Raphinha escaping international duty? Captain receives bizarre red card against Japan
Raphinha's extraordinary dismissal has sparked a rather suspicious theory among Barcelona supporters.
Details: During Brazil's dramatic 3-2 friendly defeat to Japan on November 14, the Barcelona winger received a straight red card despite already having been substituted. The incident occurred in stoppage time after Japan scored the winning goal, with Raphinha furiously protesting the referee's decision from the sidelines. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti was also sent off following the controversial episode.
However, the incident has triggered an unusual reaction on social media. Some Barcelona fans have suggested that Raphinha might have deliberately earned the red card to avoid playing in Brazil's next friendly against Singapore on November 17, thereby reducing the risk of another injury before returning to his club.
Supporters discussing the dismissal on Reddit welcomed the prospect of the winger getting some extra rest. Nevertheless, the idea that Raphinha intentionally provoked the referee remains nothing more than fan speculation. There is no verified evidence that he planned the incident, and his availability for the next friendly has not been definitively established.
The timing is particularly interesting because Barcelona have been concerned about the Brazilian's fitness. According to previous reports, the Catalan club and the Brazilian Football Confederation had already reached an understanding to carefully manage his playing time during this international break.
It's worth noting that Raphinha recently dealt with recurring muscle problems, and the agreement between Barcelona and Brazil was specifically designed to minimize the risk of another setback while representing his national team.
Reminder: Vinicius on fire! Two stunning goals turn Brazil's nightmare against Japan around – VIDEO
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
