Shirt off after ten minutes: Did Iago Aspas pick up a yellow on purpose?

Vigo’s top scorer injured

Iago Aspas (34) will definitely miss Celta Vigo’s next match. With a curious action he possibly prevented a later ban

Iago Aspas has also been a kind of life insurance for Celta Vigo this season, with the 34-year-old captain playing a direct role in eight of the 17 goals he has scored this season. On Sunday evening, Aspas scored the 1:0 against Valencia in the 11th minute – but only then caused a special stir.

When he realised he had injured himself shortly before, Aspas shook his teammates off as he cheered, took off his jersey and sat on the ground. He was substituted a few minutes later.

It is not yet clear how long Vigo’s top scorer will be out. What is curious, however, is that Aspas has received a fifth yellow card for taking off his shirt and could have “used” a theoretically injury-related absence in this case to be suspended when he cannot play anyway.

Aspas denied to Movistar after the game that he had deliberately picked up a yellow card: “I didn’t have time to think about that. What annoys me is that I won’t be able to help my colleagues in the next match.” For a similar action, Sergio Ramos had earned himself a penalty from UEFA in February 2019