Featured Image Credit: Image: Premier Sports
Topics: Villarreal, La Liga
Josh Lawless
Fans are outraged after Alex Baena was sent off for Villarreal for a celebrating honouring the club's late president, Jose Manuel Llaneza.
Unai Emery's side came from behind to beat Almeria 2-1 at Estadi Ciutat de Valencia, scoring a dramatic 94th minute winner through Nicolas Jackson.
But they did so without ten men after Baena was shown a second yellow in the harshest circumstances after netting his eighth goal of the season.
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Baena headed home a Dani Parejo corner to level matters in the 55th minute and immediately paid tribute to the late Llaneza, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 74.
He lifted up his shirt and on his under armour, a written message said, 'Thank you for everything Llaneza'.
Baena revealed the emotional message to the camera but then Ricardo de Burgo brandished a second yellow and subsequent red card to the 21-year-old.
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The Spaniard was in utter disbelief and frustration, with he and his Villarreal teammates furiously protested.
The official explained that it was because even though it wasn't a complete removal, Baena had pulled his shirt over his head.
Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres ended up being booked for dissent to the ref, who also sent off substitute Manu Morlanes.
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The man in the middle was following the rules but it felt extremely cruel at the same time.
The Yellow Submarine didn't sink, however and won it at the death when Parejo registered his second assist - this time playing an inch-perfect pass into the path of Jackson, who kept his cool and slotted home.
After the game, manager Unai Emery was asked about the decision to send off Baena.
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“I think he is a very good referee," Emery said, as per The Mirror.
"He has always been at a very high level, but there are difficult situations to referee.
"The VAR is there to help, but in this type of case you have to interpret and whether the decision is right or wrong there is a rule. He acted with the rules in his hand, but if he had thought about it more coldly he might not have made the same decision.”
Villarreal held a minute silence for Llaneza before the game and the players celebrated by pointing to the sky after the last-gasp victory.
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The club described their long-time figurehead as "one of the great architects" in Villarreal's growth and Emery paid tribute to him.
"It was a great day for Villarreal, we paid tribute to José Manuel Llaneza on the pitch, the place where he was with us," Emery commented.
"In aspects of the game there has been a bit of everything, but today there has been heart and with heart you also win games. We had the belief that with an open game and with one less player, we could win."
Villarreal, who are seventh in the league, will now be without Baena for the game against Athletic Club as he serves a one-game ban.
Because it was two yellow cards, the club cannot appeal the dismissal.