Premier League star Raul Jimenez has been widely mocked on social media after receiving a bizarre red card for two incidents in 31 seconds that were his own doing.
Away at champions Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers were holding their own approaching half time with the score tied at 0-0.
In added minutes, however, Jimenez put obstacles in his team’s way by reducing them to 10 men in a moment of madness.
First booked for fouling Rodri around the halfway line, as City boss Pep Guardiola was caught on camera throwing his arms around in disbelief, the Mexican then stood in the Spaniard’s way and prevented him from taking the resulting free kick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just going to leave this here for when the footage is copystriked so I know what Jiminez did for future references <a href="https://t.co/jVKdd5dWse">pic.twitter.com/jVKdd5dWse</a></p>— Has the Referee or VAR made a poor decision? (@PoorEPLreferees) <a href="https://twitter.com/PoorEPLreferees/status/1469665242884063237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/ftZrCfjSX8">pic.twitter.com/ftZrCfjSX8</a></p>— Has the Referee or VAR made a poor decision? (@PoorEPLreferees) <a href="https://twitter.com/PoorEPLreferees/status/1469660114877562882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
Referee Jon Moss had seen enough by that point, and gave him a second yellow which sent Jimenez for an early bath.
Ridiculed by the home crowd, the striker applauded them sarcastically. Online, the reception was no warmer.
Called an “idiot”, Jimenez was blasted for a “stupid mistake from an international footballer”, though Rodri had been “very clever” in setting him up for his fall.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stupid mistake from an international footballer tbh, but very clever from Rodri.</p>— 𝙁𝙎 🐝 (@Fs_BVB) <a href="https://twitter.com/Fs_BVB/status/1469659197688188940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After the red card he intentionally throwed his headband to the ground & walking by clapping !<br><br>Guy just got sent of for being stupid & he's behaving much more after the foul 😭<br><br>Raul Jimenez 💥😂</p>— GAÚCHO (@PavanFCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/PavanFCB/status/1469659952805396483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
A more articulate review was that Jimenez had provided the perfect example of “the existential red card”.
“Watching Raul Jimenez being sent off for Wolves against Manchester City was almost like watching someone go through the five stages of athletic grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. It was epic and spiritual,” the popular Twitter user added.