Video: Edinson Cavani gets a yellow and a straight red card within 10 seconds

Referee Nicolas Rainville shows Cavani a direct red seconds after showing him a yellow card

Edinson Cavani had a mixed day at the office as he won a penalty, scored it, got a yellow for celebrating and got a red for protesting the yellow all within seconds of each other. In a Ligue 1 clash between Paris Saint Germain and relegation threatened-side Lens, it was the home side which took the shock lead within 10 minutes. PSG hit back with a long range effort from Yohan Cabaye in the 28th minute from a Maxwell assist who himself scored off a beautiful lob just six minutes later.

It was in the 54th minute when the real drama began as Lens defender Jean-Philippe Gbamin got his second yellow for bringing Cavani down in the box who duly scored off the spot kick.

It was Cavani’s celebration though that referee Nicolas Rainville didn’t take kindly to and booked the Uruguayan. A gun-totting gesture that the player has done many times in the past. The forward was visibly shocked and held the referee’s arm to seemingly ask for a clarification.

The official, clearly not in the mood for any explanations, gave him a straight red card.

Here is a Gif version of the incident.

The match ended 3-1 in PSG’s favour with the reigning champions now second on the table with 18 points in 10 games, 4 points behind Marseille who have a game in hand.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was livid at the decision saying that punishments for celebrations are bad for French football.

“It is the media's job to speak about the referee,” he said.
“Cavani does not deserve that red card. And why has he got a yellow before? He always does the same celebration.
“This is not normal and it is not good for French football if we want to develop. It is a bad situation for everyone.”

A few weeks ago, Tottenham’s Nacer Chadli got a yellow for a simple hand-to-the-ear goal celebration against Arsenal.