Bizarre moment referee tries to show a red card at Club World Cup and pulls out something very different
Club World Cup referee Cesar Arturo Ramos sent off Boca Juniors' Jorge Figal on Monday night - but not before brandishing something else entirely alongside a red card.
Ramos oversaw a testy 2-2 draw between the Argentine giants and Benfica, as former Manchester United man Ander Herrera and Andrea Belotti were sent off earlier in the match as well.
But things took a confusing turn when Figal was given his marching orders in the 88th minute, as Ramos also pulled out what appeared to be a religious symbol.
Along with his red card, Ramos held up what fans have identified as an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a depiction of the Virgin Mary popular in Mexico.
Ramos, a native of Culiacan, Mexico, quickly realized his mistake as he put the apparent religious card back into his pocket.
Still, fans couldn't believe what they had witnessed.
pic.twitter.com/y7qODGfnq7
— Muslimbek Otabekov (@muslimbek_18) June 17, 2025
'You're going to be expelled and reflect on what you just did, here's a card!!!,' one joked in a comment translated by X.
'La Roja de Guadalupe,' another cracked.
Ultimately, nine-men Boca Juniors held on over the final minutes of the contest to earn a point against Benfica at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Boca raced out to a 2-0 lead in the first half as Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia found the net.
However, Benfica got back into the match via World Cup winners Angel di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi.
Benfica will look to earn their first win of the tournament on Friday when they face Auckland City.
Boca, meanwhile, will face current group-toppers Bayern Munich on Friday in Miami.
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