Carlo Ancelotti did not give Casemiro approval to get a deliberate yellow card in November and the decision has backfired.
Real Madrid beat Sheriff 3-0 away from home and after the third and final goal Brazilian midfielder Casemiro was seen in conversation with Ancelotti.
In footage that circulated online, he wandered over to the touchline with a smirk on his face and his hand cupped. It seems as though the former Porto man was wondering if his manager wanted him to get booked deliberately.
Ancelotti shook his head and mouthed, "No".
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Casemiro was one yellow card away from suspension and would have been banned for the final Champions League group stage game.
However, had he been cautioned, he would have been on a clean slate for the knockout stages as yellow cards refresh - a situation Real have made the most of previously.
Casemiro did not get booked and was substituted for Antonio Blanco in the 84th minute in the penultimate Group D clash.
Ancelotti denied that the reported conversation with Casemiro took place and claimed he merely asked to be taken off.
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He then started the 2-0 win over Inter Milan on the final matchday and avoided a yellow, but was booked in the round of 16 first leg clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
Casemiro along with teammate Ferland Mendy, will now miss the crucial second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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His absence in the middle of the park is a huge blow for Los Blancos given his importance to the team.
The 29-year-old's yellow was brandished for a tackle on Leandro Paredes and he was also fortunate to not receive a red card after grabbing the Argentine by the throat.
Ancelotti, however, felt neither Casemiro or Mendy deserved to be yellow card, saying: "The two players that we had on a caution were both booked. I think the two yellows were gifted a bit."
Topics: Carlo Ancelotti, Casemiro, Real Madrid, Champions League