'Idiot' sent off for costly wagging of right hand in Champions League clash
Craig Foster branded Al Musrati as "an idiot" after the midfielder was sent off in Monaco's 1-0 Champions League loss to Benfica.
Musrati got his marching orders from referee Maurizio Mariani in the 52nd minute of the first leg playoff on Thursday (AEDT).
Mariani showed him a second yellow card, seemingly because Musrati appeared to contest his decision after Alvaro Carreras had fouled Monaco striker Breel Embolo.
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Al Musrati of Monaco after being shown a red card. Getty
He pushed Embolo to the ground from behind when they jostled for the ball and a foul was given to Monaco.
Replays showed that Musrati quickly wagged his right hand as if to demand a yellow card - which in itself is grounds for a card.
Musrati did not appear aggressive or even to say much at all, but within one second Mariani had brandished the second yellow and ordered him off - much to the despair of the Libya international.
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Denis Zakaria and Orkun Koekcue talk to referee Maurizio Mariani. Getty
"I think it's right," former Socceroos captain Foster said on Stan Sport's coverage.
"The rules are you can't be asking for cards for the opposing team and you're the idiot because you've already got a yellow.
"So a lot of fans will say: 'oh well you should be lenient because you've already had a yellow'. Well that's his problem.
"It's not the ref's problem."
Monaco manager Adi Hutter was upset by the decision, saying that Musrati had acted calmly, and also by a late yellow card shown to captain Denis Zakaria - thus ruling him out of the return leg.
"I didn't see him walk to the referee. The only thing what he said maybe was 'It could be a yellow card,'" Hutter said.
Monaco midfielder Al Musrati got a harsh red card from referee Maurizio Mariani. Stan
"Yes these are the rules we have to accept, but he was not aggressive right? And when you see the second yellow card of Zakaria, he is suspended. These are harsh yellow cards."
Monaco left back Krepin Diatta also felt the red card was unfair.
"I think everyone saw for themselves," he said.
"He wasn't angry and he was calm toward the referee. Sometimes it's too severe."
Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis scored the winning goal.
Meanwhile, a rare howler from standout AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan gifted Feyenoord a 1-0 win.
With heavy rain falling in the port city of Rotterdam, the France No.1 was beaten in the third minute by Brazilian forward Igor Paixao's shot from the left side of the penalty area.
The greasy surface may have played a factor but the experienced Maignan seemed to misjudge the angled shot, which bounced up off his hands and flew in at the near post.
It was even more surprising given Maignan's ability.
Mike Maignan of AC Milan is injured at Stadio San Siro. Getty
He was voted the best goalkeeper in the Italian league when Milan won the Serie A title in 2022.
He was also the French league's best goalie in 2019 with Lille, where he made a name for himself as a brilliant shot-stopper with great composure.
But his mistake gave Pascal Bosschaart the ideal start as interim Feyenoord manager.
He took charge just two days before the game after the club sacked Brian Priske.
