Fans on social media decried a ‘vile and hateful’ tackle Alan Benitez made in the dying minutes of a testy Copa Libertadores clash between his Cerro Porteno side and Chilean opponents Colo-Colo.
Wednesday night saw the final group stage game of the competition, with the Paraguayan team in desperate need of a win to sneak past their rivals on the night into the knockout rounds.
But with the score deadlocked at 1-1, a moment of headlessness in the 99th minute from Benitez all but took the game away from the Asuncion-based side.
The 30-year-old set off in pursuit of Maximiliano Falcon, and in an effort to stop the defender’s run, launched himself at the Uruguayan.
Benitez appeared to stamp deliberately and with force on Falcon’s ankle, immediately flooring him, with Falcon tumbling to the turf in pain.
Alan Benitez (centre left) crunched into a horror tackle on Maximiliano Falcon (centre right)
The defender appreared to stamp on his opposite man’s ankle in the dying minutes of the tie
Benitez’s Cerro Porteno was hunting for the vital winner against Falcon’s Colo-Colo
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A swift VAR intervention from Leonard Mosquera alerted on-pitch referee Wilmar Roldan to the reckless challenge, and saw Benitez handed a straight red card and dismissed moments before time.
But fans were increasingly appalled by the challenge as a clip of the incident circulated on Reddit, with all in agreement that Benitez’s punishment was a fair one.
‘That might be one of the most vile and hateful tackles that I’ve ever seen,’ one comment read. ‘He just went for career ending, straight up.’
Another argued where it was ‘definitely worth (considering) as an assault’.
‘This is some Ballon d’Or worthy foul, dude is shameless,’ one supporter added.
Falcon fell to the floor in pain after he was set upon by Benitez in the Copa Libertadores match
Initially missed by the referee, VAR confirmed it had been a dangerous challenge and handed down a red card to Benitez
A fourth wondered: ‘Holy s*** there is hate in that tackle.’
Some fans wondered if there should be further punishment for Benitez based on the aggression shown on the pitch, with one calling for a lifetime ban.
‘Should be banned for the rest of his career,’ one commenter wrote. ‘This is criminal. Straight up assault.’
Another seconded the idea, adding: ‘Should be banned for a good while for that.’
After the match, Falcon confirmed that he had picked up an injury from the challenge, saying: ‘Apparently I have a Grade 2 or 3 sprain (from the tackle).
‘I can walk, but it hurts a lot.’
Carlos Palacious had opened the scoring from the spot in Asuncion on Wednesday night
Federico Carrizo equalised for Cerro Porteno 10 minutes later but couldn’t add another one
Colo-Colo qualified for the round of 16 by a fine margin after finishing second in Group A
The draw on the road was all the Chilean side needed to progress to the round of 16 alongside group leaders – and defending champions – Fluminense.
Colo-Colo ended their group stage campaign level on points with Cerro Porteno, but had an improved away goals record that snuck them over the line.
