Lazio defender Luiz Felipe was inconsolable in floods of tears, sent off after the final whistle of the 3-1 win over Inter for what he argued was a joke gone wrong.
The tension was already sky high at the Stadio Olimpico, as Lazio took a 2-1 lead with Felipe Anderson, scoring when Federico Dimarco was down hurt.
The situation erupted again at the final whistle, when Luiz Felipe jumped on Joaquin Correa’s shoulders from behind to celebrate the win.
They were very close and teammates at Lazio up until a few months ago, but Correa did not seem to realise who it was – or thought it in poor taste anyway – and reacted angrily.
The referee saw this and showed a red card to Luiz Felipe, who burst into tears as he desperately tried to explain it was meant to be a joke with a very good friend.
This red card, if upheld, will rule Luiz Felipe out of the next match, where Francesco Acerbi is already suspended for insulting the referee.