Rodrigo Martins, a standout player for Petrolul Ploiești, made headlines after deliberately securing a red card during a match against Botoșani. The 28-year-old forward scored two goals to help his team clinch victory, but his actions towards the end of the game raised eyebrows.
Martins entered the match aware that accumulating a fourth yellow card would result in suspension for the next game. To avoid this, he attempted to receive a second yellow card, which would allow him to play in the subsequent Cup match against Progresul Spartac.
This strategy became evident when Martins received a yellow card in the 50th minute for delaying a free kick execution. As the match progressed, he aimed to provoke another yellow card. In stoppage time, when substituted by Ludewig, Martins deliberately exited the field slowly and even stopped to remove his shin guards.
Despite his antics, he was not initially cautioned again, prompting a frantic reaction from coach Ricardo Sousa on the sidelines. However, moments later, Martins managed to convince referee Marcel Bîrsan to issue him a second yellow card after confronting opponent Andrei Dumiter.
Martins received this card with a smile, knowing it would exempt him from suspension against CFR Cluj, but would sideline him for the upcoming Cup match.
Martins’ Reaction to His Dismissal
In a post-match interview, Martins expressed a mix of humor and regret regarding his dismissal. “It was a cunning matter, I don’t want to talk too much about it. I apologize for missing the next match,” he stated with a smile.
Reflecting on his performance, he described his second goal—a delicate lob—as an instinctive choice after noticing the goalkeeper off his line. “I tried to lob him, and thankfully it resulted in a goal. I am happy to have contributed to the team’s success on a difficult pitch,” he added, celebrating his first double in a match.
