Rayo Vallecano midfielder Pathe Ciss has publicly addressed his sending-off following a heavy challenge on Dani Ceballos, offering a direct apology to the Real Madrid midfielder.
The La Liga clash between Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid was filled with tension, drama, and controversy.
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Rayo Vallecano finished the match with just nine men after both Ciss and Pep Chavarria were shown red cards.
The first dismissal came in the 80th minute, when Ciss, who recently lifted the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, caught Ceballos with a very hard tackle on the ankle.
The challenge immediately drew a strong reaction, and the referee had no hesitation in reaching for the red card.
At the time of the incident, Rayo were still holding onto a valuable point, making the dismissal even more damaging for his team.
Owning up to the error
Following the match, Ciss took to his Instagram stories to reflect on the incident.
Before addressing the apology itself, the midfielder explained how his view of the tackle changed after seeing it again.
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Ciss admitted that his initial uncertainty disappeared once he reviewed the footage.
“When I left the stadium, they asked me if it was a red card, and I wasn’t sure. But I just saw the replay, and I admit that it was a red card.”
Having acknowledged the seriousness of the challenge, Ciss went on to issue a public apology.
His message was directed not only at the opponent he fouled, but also at those affected by his dismissal.
“I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone: my teammates, the fans, and also Dani Ceballos.”
Ceballos later responded to the Rayo Vallecano midfielder, with a subtle forgiveness, stating, “Nothing, buddy. Just football stuff.”