Former Liverpool favourite Fabinho found himself at the centre of a farcical red card incident in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night, prompting widespread mockery from football fans online.
The Comical Dismissal
The 32-year-old Brazilian, now playing for Al-Ittihad, was shown a second yellow and then a red card in a late cameo of pure comedy. With his side pushing for a winning goal against Damac, Fabinho committed a clumsy foul while already on a booking. What followed was a surreal sequence where the defensive midfielder appeared to try and substitute himself off the pitch in a desperate bid to escape further punishment.
In a move that left spectators baffled, Fabinho immediately sprinted towards the technical area, deliberately avoiding eye contact with the referee pursuing him. He hastily handed the captain's armband to a teammate, but his efforts were in vain. The official brandished the second yellow card at his retreating back, followed by the inevitable red.
Social Media Erupts
The incident quickly went viral, with a clip shared on X (formerly Twitter) amassing thousands of views. Supporters were quick to lampoon the ex-Reds star's unconventional tactics. One fan quipped, 'Fabinho thought he could glitch the ref system lmao,' while another asked, 'Why are players always silly when it comes to a card? Does he actually think running off will make him avoid a yellow card?'
A third offered a more creative interpretation, posting: 'Bro really tried to gaslight the entire stadium into thinking his shift was over.' Notably, Fabinho was seen smiling wryly after the initial foul, perhaps already resigned to his fate.
Context and Future
While the optics suggested a laughable escape attempt, some observers offered a more pragmatic explanation. One fan noted he was likely rushing off to avoid wasting precious time for his ten-man team, who were chasing a late winner. Regardless of intent, the moment provided light relief in a match that ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.
The episode comes at a potentially pivotal time for Fabinho. Having made 64 appearances for Al-Ittihad since his £40m move from Liverpool in 2023, his contract is set to expire this summer. In a recent interview with Marca, he confirmed, 'It’s the first time in my career that I reach the end of a contract,' and expressed a desire to potentially return to European football, specifically mentioning La Liga as an exciting prospect.
Fabinho was a key part of Jurgen Klopp's trophy-winning machine at Anfield, lifting both the Premier League and Champions League. He also joined former teammates last summer to pay respects at the funeral of Diogo Jota.
