Bayern Munich winger Luis Diaz will miss Champions League matches after being handed a three-game ban by UEFA following his red card earlier this month
Luis Diaz's red card in midweek has divided opinion
Luis Diaz's red card in midweek has divided opinion
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Bayern Munich star Luis Diaz has been slapped with a three-game ban after his Champions League red card against Paris Saint-Germain. UEFA have acted after determining that Diaz committed "serious rough play" with his challenge on Achraf Hakimi.
Diaz had bagged a brace before being given his marching orders in first-half stoppage time of Bayern's 2-1 win at the Parc des Princes. Former Liverpool winger Diaz left the ground and scythed down his opponent, who was left in tears, but he was originally only awarded a yellow card.
A VAR review led to the referee upgrading the caution to a red card. Now the Colombia international has discovered he will be forced to miss Bayern's trip to Arsenal on Wednesday in addition to clashes against Sporting CP and Union Saint-Gilloise.
Bayern currently sit top of the Champions League table with four wins from as many games. Vincent Kompany will be frustrated to lose one of his key players.
The Belgian said he didn't think Diaz's challenge "was that dangerous", in the aftermath of the game.
For his part, Diaz wished Hakimi 'a quick return to the pitch'. He said on social media: “It was a night full of emotions.
" Football always reminds us that in 90 minutes, anything can happen the best and the worst. I was sad not to finish the match with my teammates, but proud of their incredible effort. Wishing Hakimi a quick return to the pitch."
Former Bayern star Toni Kroos was stunned to see Diaz sent off, however. The German World Cup winner believes it was never a red card and that Hakimi's reaction did more to decide things.
The Bayern Munich star was given his marching orders after scything down the PSG star
The Bayern Munich star was given his marching orders after scything down the PSG star
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He said on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast: “For me, it’s clear: it wasn’t a red card."
Kroos added: “If Hakimi had gotten up after the challenge, nobody would have reviewed the play. In situations like these, the referee should judge the action itself, not the consequences.”
With Diaz confirmed to be absent against Arsenal, Kompany will hope Serge Gnabry can make a quick recovery. The Germany international will miss the Bundesliga clash against Freiburg after returning from international duty with an injury.
"Serge returned from international duty and still felt a twinge," Kompany said on Friday. "We'll see, he probably won't be involved against Freiburg, we're hoping for the game after that."
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