A dramatic and controversial moment unfolded deep into stoppage time as Al-Ittihad were reduced to ten men in the 97th minute following an extraordinary incident involving former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.
With tensions high and the match finely poised, Fabinho committed a foul on an opponent that immediately drew the referee’s attention. In a moment that stunned players and spectators alike, the Brazilian appeared to signal toward the bench and attempted to substitute himself off, seemingly in an effort to avoid receiving a second yellow card.
However, the referee was not deceived. After stopping play, the official issued Fabinho his second booking, which automatically resulted in a red card. The attempted substitution was ruled invalid, as disciplinary decisions take precedence over any changes once an infringement has occurred.
The bizarre episode sparked confusion on the pitch and animated reactions from both benches, while Al-Ittihad were left to see out the closing moments with a numerical disadvantage.
The incident has since gone viral, with fans and pundits debating Fabinho’s decision-making in the heat of the moment. What was intended as a clever escape instead became one of the most talked-about moments of the match — a costly lapse that compounded Al-Ittihad’s late-game drama.
