Iturralde González: Major error cost Sporting v Gil Vicente | OneFootball

Iturralde González, former international referee, believes that Gonçalo Inácio was wrongly sent off in the match between Gil Vicente and Sporting, at a time when the score was 1-0 in favor of the Alvalade club. The expert sees no reason for the center-back to have been shown a red card.

"It’s not a red card. In a clear goal-scoring opportunity, it’s very important that the forward has control of the ball or the opportunity to control it. And in this play, the ball is going over him very quickly, and the goalkeeper could have reached it first", he began by telling the newspaper 'Record', explaining the incident.

"To send off a player, the foul has to be much clearer, and this play leaves me with serious doubts as to whether he could have controlled the ball. In cases of red cards, in plays involving clear goal-scoring opportunities, the referee’s perspective is crucial. From the field, the view is different from the aerial camera’s view. That’s why I believe VAR should have intervened to help him, offering an alternative view", he justified.

Sporting opened the scoring in the first half through Luis Suárez, but the home team, with a numerical advantage after the Portuguese international center-back was sent off, scored the equalizer three minutes before the 90, through forward Carlos Eduardo.

In this 2025/26 sports season, Gonçalo Inácio – valued at 45 million euros – is one of the pillars of Sporting. The green and white center-back has, so far, played 2,112 minutes in 24 matches, in which he has already provided two assists for goals.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.