Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly is shown a straight red card.placeholder image
Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly is shown a straight red card. | Getty Images
Former Newcastle United defender Lloyd Kelly was sent off for Juventus against Galatasaray last night.
Lloyd Kelly was left seething after his red card cost Juventus dearly in the Champions League.
A thrilling encounter resulted in 10-man Juve winning 3-0 to force the game into extra time. However, Galatasaray struck twice - with Baris Alper Yilmaz’s 199th-minute clincher crushing Italian hearts.
The Old Lady were left wondering what could have been if Kelly stayed on the pitch. However, little blame can be placed on the former Newcastle United man once you analyse the incident…
Lloyd Kelly’s bizarre red card
With Juventus leading 1-0 on 47 minutes, Kelly challenged for an aerial ball with Galatasaray forward Yilmaz. On his way down, he caught the opponent’s Achilles and was shown a yellow card.
Controversy arose when VAR intervened and sent referee Joao Pinheiro to the pitchside monitor. During a lengthy observation, Kelly could be heard shouting: “How can you give this as a yellow card? It’s f----ing embarrassing!”
Pinheiro reversed his caution - only to send Kelly off instead. The decision incensed Juve stars and became the latest hurdle in the ex-Toon star’s career.
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Lloyd Kelly on leaving Newcastle United
Eddie Howe signed Kelly on a free transfer in 2024 only to ship him out on loan the following January. The versatile defender played 14 times for Newcastle but was soon sent to Juve, initially joining on loan before securing a £20million move.
On the shock approach, Kelly said last year: "I didn't expect it because at that time, I wasn’t playing too much at Newcastle but I was a key player in the squad and felt important and felt like I was needed. My agent phoned me and just said, 'Would you move to Juventus?’
“It took me ten seconds to realise what he said and I just said, ‘Yes, let's do it'. Even if the door was slightly ajar, I would have said: ‘Let’s push for this.’ Luckily, it actually happened."
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