Today in Football: Red Cards, Robots and Ruckuses You Might’ve Missed
Football doesn’t stop for breath, and neither do we. Here’s the stuff that slipped under the radar while you were busy refreshing team news and arguing over xG. From Ronaldo’s flash of fury to a non-league dust-up and a slice of Bundesliga brilliance, consider this your quick-fire catch‑up. If you fancy a flutter along the way, check out the latest from best betting sites — and keep your nerve better than some of the characters below.
November 13: Ronaldo loses his head as Portugal trail Ireland
Cristiano Ronaldo saw red against the Republic of Ireland, the veteran boiling over with Portugal 2-0 down. Replays showed him lashing out at Dara O’Shea — the on-field call was a yellow, but VAR had a word and the referee upgraded it to a straight red. As he trudged off, there was pointed applause towards the crowd and a cheeky sidle towards Heimir Hallgrímsson, a nod to the Ireland boss’s pre-match comments about officiating. Peak theatre, but the sort of drama that does his team no favours.
Pundit’s view: When the temperature rises, leaders cool the room. Ronaldo did the opposite — and Portugal paid for it.
November 11: Neymar slammed after Santos’ defeat to Flamengo
In Brazil, Neymar’s night ended with criticism ringing in his ears after Santos went down 3-2 to Flamengo. Subbed in the second half, he cut a frustrated figure, and former pro-turned-firebrand pundit Neto absolutely tore into him, accusing the forward of strolling and stalling his team. The sting in the tale? Santos found two late goals and nearly nicked a comeback once he’d gone off.
Oh, and there was a comic miscue to boot: Neymar dropped deep to take a quick free-kick to build from the back, only for a team-mate to lump it long. If looks could kill.
November 8: Díaz’s outrageous angle for Bayern vs Union Berlin
Bayern Munich fell behind to Union Berlin, but Luis Díaz produced a stunner to level it. The Colombian winger kept the ball in by the tightest of margins, skipped past his man and then, from an absurd byline angle, somehow squeezed his shot beyond Frederik Rønnow. That’s exactly why Bayern splashed around £65.5m on him in the summer — end product with a side helping of audacity.
Pundit’s view: You can’t coach that bit of devilment. The first touch and the decision to shoot from there? Filthy.
November 4: Trent mural vandalised on eve of European tie
Back on Merseyside, a mural of Trent Alexander-Arnold was defaced hours before Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid. White paint splashed over the artwork and scrawled insults appeared beside the depiction of the full-back in his No 66 shirt. Trent had been learning Spanish before opting not to sign a new Liverpool deal and leaving in the summer — a detail not lost on the culprits. Small-time stuff that does the city no credit.
November 2: Crouch salutes Haaland’s ‘robot’ homage
Erling Haaland bagged a brace in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth and marked the first with a throwback: his own spin on the robot celebration. Cue Peter Crouch, patron saint of the move, popping up online with a knowing nod that the new generation are only dancing because he paved the way. Lovely bit of football folklore.
November 1: United fan’s hair odyssey continues after Forest draw
Frank Ilett, the Manchester United fan vowing not to cut his hair until the Red Devils win five on the bounce, will be growing it out a while longer. United were pegged back to 2-2 at Nottingham Forest — Casemiro’s opener overturned by two quick Forest strikes before Amad Diallo rescued a point. Ilett, who runs The United Strand and hasn’t seen a barber since October 2024, posted his heartbreak straight after full-time. It’s become the Premier League’s most watchable barnet.
October 29: Palace twist the knife after Cup hammering at Anfield
Crystal Palace heaped more misery on a wobbling Liverpool with a 3-0 Carabao Cup win at Anfield. Ismaïla Sarr grabbed a brace and Yeremy Pino added the gloss as the Eagles’ social media team cheekily reminded everyone they’ve had Liverpool’s number of late. Arne Slot’s rough patch grew rougher, and there was no hiding place.
October 26: Brentford clap back at Slot after 3-2 victory
After Arne Slot suggested opponents tweak line-ups for Liverpool, Brentford rocked up unchanged and still took the points in a 3-2 thriller. The Bees’ account couldn’t resist a wink to the touchline narrative afterwards, essentially saying: same XI, same result. Lesson: talk is cheap; points are priceless.
October 23: Owen’s reactions hint at loyalties in Liverpool 1-2 Man United
Michael Owen — who famously wore both shirts — was on pundit duty for Liverpool versus Manchester United, and fan cams stitched together his live reactions to each goal. Let’s just say he perked up for Liverpool’s equaliser and looked notably restrained for the other two strikes. The internet drew its own conclusions, as it always does.
October 19: Non-league mayhem forces abandonment at Avro vs Kidsgrove
Grim scenes in the pyramid as Avro’s clash with Kidsgrove Athletic was abandoned late on with the hosts 6-0 up against nine men. A mass confrontation spilled into the stands; footage shows players charging towards supporters and one goalkeeper appearing to land a punch. Both clubs have condemned what happened and say they’re cooperating with the investigation. No place for it — ever.
That’s your lot: cards, chaos and class finishes, all in a day’s work for football’s never-ending soap opera. We’ll be back when the next storyline explodes — which, let’s face it, is probably in about five minutes.
