Aston Villa penalty Emiliano Martinez escaped a red card due to a little-known rule that means yellow cards do not carry over into penalty shootouts. Lille were left baffled when the goalkeeper was not dismissed when he was shown a second yellow card in their Conference League clash with the Premier League side.
Martinez was first booked in the 39th minute with referee Ivan Kruzliak accusing the Argentine of time-wasting. The shot-stopper was therefore walking a tightrope for the rest of the game.
So there was plenty of confusion when, with Martinez adopting the dark arts during the penalty shootout, Kruzliak brandished another yellow card in Martinez’s direction.
It was assumed that the 31-year-old would need to leave the field and be replaced by an outfield player. However, football’s laws state that yellow cards issued during the match do not carry over into a penalty shootout.
Martinez subsequently remained on the pitch and saved a spot-kick to send Villa into the semi-finals.
IFAB’s laws state: “Warnings and cautions (yellow cards) issued during the match are not carried forward into kicks from the penalty mark (penalty shootouts). A player who receives a YC during both the match and the [penalty shootout] is not sent off.”
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