Portugal forward Rafael Leão stated that he “never intended to hurt” Chilean defender Ivan Román after an incident in Saturday’s World Cup warmup match, where he punched Román in the face.
The incident occurred in the 44th minute during a game in Lisbon, as Leão intervened to defend teammate João Cancelo, who was being pushed by Román.
Following a brief confrontation where both players grabbed each other by the neck, Leão threw a punch at Román, leading to the Chilean defender falling to the ground.
Both players were subsequently shown straight red cards.
Reflecting on the red card, Leão, 26, expressed on Instagram, “My intention was solely to protect my teammate; I never aimed to harm the opponent!”
Bruno Fernandes commented on Leão’s actions, emphasizing team solidarity. The Manchester United star noted, “Of course, we prefer not to have players sent off, but it’s important to highlight the solidarity within the team and how the players supported one another. Leão recognized that Cancelo was in trouble; he was quick to respond, but unfortunately, the Chilean player went down during the scuffle. However, it’s vital for us to back each other up. I’ll focus on the positives, as this camaraderie will be crucial during the World Cup.”
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Despite the incident, Portugal secured a 2-1 victory; however, coach Roberto Martinez expressed disappointment over Leão’s red card. “We are all very passionate and he reacted impulsively in a situation likely to arise frequently at the World Cup,” he remarked. “It’s a reminder that we must not succumb to frustration or risk receiving a red card in such moments.”
Leão will be suspended for Portugal’s final warmup match against Nigeria on Wednesday but will be eligible to play in his team’s World Cup opener against DR Congo on June 17.