After he went from an excellent footballer with a strong personality to a true outcast only to be banned from all stadiums, a look back at the worst day of Pepe’s life in this fifth episode of the Advent Calendar.
If his longevity and inexhaustible competitiveness are unanimously recognized today, there was a time when Pepe was considered the most dangerous footballer in the world. A title that has hardly been usurped since the 40-year-old defender became the author of one of the most scandalous outbursts in modern football history. Magnetic.
The events took place on April 21, 2009. Pepe, who was playing for Real Madrid at the time, started against Getafe during the 32nd round of the Spanish League BBVA. This meeting is very important for him and his teammates since they are in a struggle with FC Barcelona for the title of Spanish champion, and they are a few points behind the Catalan team. Therefore, defeat is not allowed.
But a quarter of an hour before the end of the match, and while the score was two goals all around, Javier Casquero, the Getafe striker, received a pass on the edge of the penalty area and prepared to play head-to-head. With Iker Casillas. Pepe, who is slightly behind his opponent, urgently decides to push him, instantly causing his opponent to become off balance and fall.
Realizing the “seriousness” of his gesture, at such an important moment, and the possible arbitration penalty that could follow, the Portuguese defender is out of control. He kicked Casquero first in the legs, then in the back again, before returning to the attack, pulling at his arms and hair, stomping on him twice, then shoving Azulon’s face second and striking a third…
The next day, everyone in the football press was talking only about him. Videos of this attack, which were logically excluded, are spreading around the world, especially on the YouTube platform, where he is described as a psychopath or even an animal. Three days later, the Spanish Federation announced a 10-match suspension.
Reasonable to some, insufficient to others, the fact remains that this sad incident contributed to Pepe’s long-standing image of a raging madman. Fortunately today, everything is back to normal, and what is more important is his prowess in the World Cup or Champions League in which we invoke the name of one of the greatest defenders in the history of round football.
