Portuguese defender Pepe was lucky to escape a red card for a horror tackle on Marlon during Porto’s 2-1 defeat to Gil Vicente. With time running out and his team trailing, the 40-year-old lunged in recklessly and caught the winger high on his shin at a dangerous angle that could have broken his leg. Despite the severity of the challenge, referee Rui Costa only showed Pepe a yellow card, much to the surprise of fans who felt he should have been sent off.
The decision may have been influenced by the fact that Porto had already had two players sent off either side of half-time, and the official may have been hesitant to dish out another red. This could have saved Pepe’s skin, and it was a birthday present of sorts for the veteran defender who celebrated his 40th on Sunday.
Pepe has made 240 appearances for Porto across two spells, signing from Real Madrid in 2018. His impressive form has led Porto president Pinto da Costa to suggest that he could play for another five or six years. He said: “It is a monster, a competitive animal.”
It is clear that Pepe still has plenty to offer at the highest level, but he will need to be more careful in future to avoid any more potential red cards.
