Antony Apologises After Botched Overhead Kick Sparks Late Drama.

Antony apologising after red card incident against Girona

Antony Apologises After Botched Overhead Kick Sparks Late Drama

Antony’s La Liga revival hit a chaotic bump over the weekend as the Real Betis winger was sent off in the closing stages of their 1–1 draw against Girona — and the incident has quickly become one of the most dramatic moments of his spell in Spain.

What should’ve been a harmless attempt to keep the ball alive turned into a VAR-assisted red card that left Girona defender Joel Roca on the ground, Betis fans gasping, and Antony himself rushing to apologise after the final whistle.

A Risky Overhead Attempt Gone Wrong

With Betis pushing hard for a stoppage-time winner, Antony tried to improvise with a flashy overhead kick in the Girona penalty area. Only problem? Roca reached the ball a split-second earlier with a header.

Antony’s boot, already in motion, caught the defender straight in the face — leaving him rolling on the turf in pain.
The referee initially pulled out a yellow card, but VAR had other ideas.

After a quick monitor check, the decision was upgraded to a straight red, turning Antony’s moment of ambition into an evening of regret.

Antony Takes Responsibility

To his credit, the Brazilian didn’t hide. Hours later, he posted a heartfelt apology to Betis supporters:

“Very sad about the red card. All I wanted was to help my team win. A completely unintentional move… sorry to all the fans that have always supported me.”

Since arriving from Manchester United last January — first on loan and now permanently — Antony has kept a mostly clean disciplinary record. This rare misstep clearly stung.

Pellegrini Still Backs His Man

Despite the incident, manager Manuel Pellegrini remains one of Antony’s biggest believers.

He has frequently praised the winger’s transformation since joining Betis, highlighting his work rate, pressing, humility, and hunger to rebuild his career:

“He’s matured significantly… running 40 metres, recovering, getting into the box. That’s what’s helped him make up for lack of precision.”

Pellegrini also revealed that Antony arrived in Spain looking for “revenge” after struggling at Manchester United — and Betis has become the perfect platform for his resurgence.

One red card won’t change that.

A Strange Night, But A Player Still On The Rise

Antony may have left Betis with ten men, but he also left a message: he cares. His apology, accountability, and effort on the pitch show a player still growing — and still crucial to Betis’ plans.

Sometimes it’s the messy moments that reveal the maturity.