Ahead of Real Madrid’s participation in the Club World Cup, Los Blancos are acutely aware that a red card in the final of the competition could cost them dearly in the subsequent Clasico clash with Barcelona.
According to the FIFA disciplinary code, any such dismissal would see an immediate suspension forced to be served in the very next competitive fixture.
Provided Zinedine Zidane’s charges reach the final of the continental competition hosted in the United Arab Emirates, such a regulation would come into view as a serious risk.
The law itself makes clear that given the format of the Club World Cup, a red card in the final simply leaves no alternative than serving a domestic suspension.
‘The suspension derived from the dismissal of a player in a competition that has ended or the team has been eliminated from will be fulfilled in the next official club match.’
Gary Cahill suffered as a result of this particular law back in 2012, he was sent off in the Club World Cup final against Corinthians and was thus forced to miss a League Cup clash with Leeds United.
