Casemiro was in tears when he was sent off for Manchester United on Sunday, and an old interview explains why.
Casemiro only joined United at the very end of the summer transfer window, but already he is clocking up red cards and suspensions at an unprecedented rate.
The Brazilian midfielder spent nine years at Real Madrid, and over 222 La Liga appearances he did not receive a straight red card.
However, the 31-year-old has now been shown a straight red twice for United after just 19 Premier League games, with the two sendings off coming in the space of three league outings.
On Sunday he was initially booked when he went over the top of the ball when challenging Southampton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz.
However, referee Anthony Taylor was instructed by the VAR to consult the pitch-side monitor when it became clear that Casemiro had cught his opponent’s shin with his studs.
It seemed like a harsh decision, given that the midfielder made contact with the ball first.
Casemiro was visibly distraught when the card was changed from yellow to red, and had to be consoled by his teammates before he left the field.
An old interview Casemiro conducted with Spanish publication Panenka has shed light on why he was so upset.
It appears that playing firm but fair is a matter of principle to Casemiro, and not wanting to harm other players is something he credits his upbringing with.
“The referee, the fans… I think the key to all this is that they also see that there is no malice,” he said.
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“I always try to get the ball, I always go strong because that is who I am and I like the intesity that I play with, but there is no malice, I have never gone with studs to hurt a player.
“And vice versa, if someone is going to hurt a player, I get angry because that is not football.
In football you can foul, and fouls are part of the game. But never with malice. I think it comes from my values which my mother taught me.
“I am never going to hurt a player. I am never going to insult a player. I am never going to do anything wrong. Of course, being on the field, you can stir up a player, that is normal. And it will always happen because each one defends their badge.
But my values that my mother taught me is to never hurt anyone.
I think I am going to keep fouling and receiving cards because that is football, but I believe that the values that my mother taught me is to never hurt anyone.”
United have decided not to appeal Casemiro’s four-match suspension, meaning he will miss next weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final tie against Fulham and upcoming league fixtures against Newcastle, Brentford and Everton.
