Fabio Vieira was shown the second red card of his loan to Hamburger SV on Sunday, with the referee dismissing him for his complaints about timewasting.
Fabio Vieira has certainly had a disrupted start to his loan with Hamburger SV, serving a two-match ban after a red card for a high-foot challenge in the final minutes of a 0-0 draw with Union Berlin in September.
Vieira returned to the pitch and even won a penalty for HSV against Heidenheim in a cup game last week, but he took another backwards step as he was sent off again at the weekend.
Starting the match against FC Koln, Vieira was booked for a foul in the 74th minute of the game. At the time, Hamburg were 2-1 down and pushing for an equaliser.
Things fell apart as HSV substitute Immanuel Pherai was shown a red card for two yellow-card fouls in his first two minutes on the pitch, and team captain Yussuf Poulsen was also booked for complaining about that decision.
But it went from bad to worse four minutes later, as Vieira was shown a second yellow card for complaining to the referee about timewasting by FC Koln goalkeeper Marvin Schwabe.
Explaining the decision after the game, referee Daniel Schlager said: “I told him that I wouldn’t tolerate that kind of communication. I also spoke to the captain and, at half-time, to the HSV coach, pointing out his behavior. But it didn’t stop after half-time.
“At some point, I reach my limit. He then demanded timewasting from Schwäbe. That was too much for me, so I showed him a second yellow card.”
But captain Poulsen was certainly unhappy about the decision, saying: “We have a rule that you’re not allowed to speak to the referee to protect him. But when the referee exploits the rules…
“Fabio (Vieira) tells him that Schwäbe is wasting time. I have to watch what I say because I get very emotional.
“The rule is there to protect the referee. It’s not like we’re not supposed to talk to the ref. The second yellow-red card shouldn’t have happened; you’re allowed to talk to the ref, you’re allowed to point out that Koln are wasting time. That annoys me a bit.”
Vieira will have to serve another suspension now, meaning he’ll miss a big game against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. It’s certainly not the start the Arsenal loanee would have hoped for.