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Red mist: A fit of extreme anger that clouds a person's judgment.
Alternative meaning: An extreme rush of the blood that earns Sergio Ramos a red card every second month of the year.
When the Real Madrid captain and defender, Sergio Ramos will call it a day on his playing career, he will not be judged by his three Champions League titles or his domestic accolades. He will be remembered for his late goals and his sending offs.
Recently, in a game against Athletic Bilbao, Sergio Ramos grabbed the headlines for all the wrong reasons as he earned his 24th career red card and 19th in La Liga - a record number.
Ramos is often considered as one of the best central defenders of the current era, but judging by his red card offences, it is safe to say that Ramos has had his fair share (a lot more than fair) of weak moments.
In this segment, we will discuss the 5 most controversial (ones that cost his side) red cards of Sergio Ramos' Real Madrid career:
#5 Real Madrid 4-3 Malaga - November 2008
Late tackles, two-footed ones, an elbow to the face. Don Sergio has done it all! But his sending off against Malaga back in 2008 was different than any of his other red card offences. With the score being 2-2 and time being close to the hour mark, the game was entering its business end with both sides fighting it out for three crucial points.
Ramos and Malaga right back, Eliseu were contesting for a loose ball where a contact from Ramos made Elisue tumble on the ground. When he was on the ground, Ramos stepped on him with his entire right foot being on the fullback's chest.
The referee watched that from close quarters and had no option other than to send Ramos off. The Spaniard's instant reaction reflected that it wasn't intentional but stepping on someone's chest does warrant a straight red even if the player did not mean to do it.
#4 FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid - January 2012
It is safe to say that the biggest of matches tests a player's nerves more than anything else. And what gets bigger than El Clasico? Sergio Ramos has had a high number of incidents in this rivalry, where he has decided matches for and against Real Madrid. The 2012/13 Copa del Rey semifinal between the bitter rivals turned out to be a close fought affair.
Barcelona won the first leg at the Bernabeu 2-1 and then raced to a 2-0 lead in the second leg. But Real Madrid rallied to hit quick goals and then needed just one more to qualify for the final on away goals. Madrid needed Ramos' impact in the box during set pieces at that time, but sadly for Los Blancos, the defender did the exact opposite.
Sergio Ramos elbowed Sergio Busquets, who subsequently behaved as if he was getting stabbed or shot, by writhing in pain on the ground. The referee straight away showed a red card to Ramos and with a man down, Real Madrid surrendered hopes of a comeback at Camp Nou. To add to their misery, FC Barcelona went on to win the Copa del Rey that season.
#3 Osasuna vs Real Madrid - December 2013
2013 was truly a year to forget for Sergio Ramos. The defender received as many as four red cards in the calendar year with the last of those coming against Osasuna. With Real Madrid looking for all three points to go on a level ground with FC Barcelona, a solid performance was needed at El Sadar.
It turned out to be a fiery game with both teams finishing the game with 10 men and also with shared honours. Osasuna raced to a 2-0 lead in the first half which was followed by a Sergio Ramos sending off. Real Madrid's captain elbowed Osasuna's Riera, which resulted in an instant red card.
In Ramos' defence, it was not a foul worthy of a sending off as Riera made the most of the situation and succeeded in getting Ramos sent off. But, Ramos' departure from the field had huge consequences, as it resulted in Madrid dropping two points, as despite scoring two, Real could only manage a 2-2 draw.
Real Madrid finished third in the league, behind Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona that season, with the Colchoneros winning La Liga by three points. Had Ramos been present on the field, those two points could have inspired a late Real Madrid surge to the title.
#2 FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid - November 2010
This is a game which the mere mention of it can ruin a Madridista's day. FC Barcelona hammered five past Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of 2010, which still remains one of the biggest margins ever recorded.
Los Blancos were utterly humiliated and to make matters worse, Ramos received an early call to the showers, courtesy of two obvious bookable offences.
Playing at right-back on the day, Sergio Ramos had one of the worst games of his life as David Villa proved to be deadly against Los Blancos and made a mockery of Ramos on more than one instance. Ramos took Villa down for his first booking and then slammed into Lionel Messi for his second cynical challenge of the night.
That foul caused a full-blown brawl on the field with Sergio Ramos pushing his international teammate, Carles Puyol to the ground. The referee then showed Ramos his second yellow and the right-back's contribution was done for the night. The damage was done for Ramos and Real Madrid as FC Barcelona went on to win the game, and win the league by four points that season.
#1 Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona - March 2014
Nine games left in the season. Real Madrid top of the table. Atletico Madrid three points behind, FC Barcelona four. The second half of El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid leading 3-2 with half an hour to play. 19 games unbeaten going into this match. And on stepped Sergio Ramos. You know where this is going!
Chasing the game, Lionel Messi threaded the Madrid defence to give a pass to Neymar. The Brazilian cut past Sergio Ramos, who was the last man for the hosts. The defender clipped him and down went Neymar in his usual overexaggerating manner.
The referee pointed to the spot and signalled an end to Sergio Ramos' evening at his home ground. Lionel Messi subsequently scored and Barcelona went on to win that pulsating game 4-3. Atletico Madrid also won in that gameweek and hence, the lead at the top was gone.
Atletico Madrid leapfrogged their city rivals and then went on to win the league in fine fashion. Real Madrid finally ended the season in third place, as Sergio Ramos and the club paid dearly for his actions.
