SerpApi.Org
One of football's strangest dismissals unfolded in Brazil's Copa Paulista on Monday when Sao Jose forward Micael was shown a straight red card before kick-off after urinating beside his team's substitutes' bench.
The incident took place moments before Sao Jose's clash against Sao Caetano in the Sao Paulo State Cup, with referee Gustavo Holanda Souza taking immediate action after spotting the player relieving himself next to the technical area.
As stunned Sao Jose players surrounded the referee in protest, Souza stood by his decision and sent Micael off before a ball had even been kicked.
In his official match report, the referee explained the dismissal succinctly.
"Sent off for leaving the field of play to urinate next to his team's bench before the start of the match," Souza wrote.
SAN JOSE PLAY WITH 11 PLAYERS
Although the red card meant Micael could play no part in the contest, the timing of the incident worked in Sao Jose's favour. Since the dismissal came before kick-off, the club was permitted to replace him in the starting line-up without having to play a man short.
Substitute Tche Tche took Micael's place and made an immediate impact, scoring Sao Jose's opening goal in a 2-1 victory over Sao Caetano.
The unusual sending-off quickly went viral on social media, prompting Sao Jose to issue a tongue-in-cheek apology while also acknowledging that the referee had acted correctly.
"Despite the joke, the message is serious: we apologize for what happened and take the incident as a learning experience. This is not acceptable. A stadium is a public place, not a urinal. Onward!" the club posted on social media.
While the incident provided plenty of amusement online, it also served as a reminder that players are expected to uphold standards of conduct before, during and after matches. Public facilities, including stadiums, are shared spaces, and the referee deemed Micael's actions to be unsporting behaviour deserving of a dismissal.
Red cards before kick-off remain exceptionally rare in professional football, making Micael's dismissal one of the more bizarre incidents in recent Brazilian football. Despite the pre-match drama, Sao Jose recovered to claim all three points, ensuring the headlines belonged as much to the unusual sending-off as they did to the result on the pitch.
