Endrick's Red Card Sparks Debate as Lyon Accepts One-Game Ban

What happened

In the Ligue 1 battle between Olympique Lyonnais and Nantes, 19-year-old Brazilian forward Endrick, currently on loan from Real Madrid, was dismissed in the 61st minute after a challenge on a Nantes player near the touchline.

The on-field decision began as a potential second yellow, but after a VAR review the referee upgraded it to a direct red, citing a dangerous and apparently intentional tackle on the opponent's ankle.

Lyon breathed a sigh of relief when the disciplinary body later reviewed the incident and opted for a comparatively lenient sanction—a one-match ban for Endrick.

The ruling and impact

According to the disciplinary committee, Endrick will miss just one match, allowing Lyon to prepare for the Strasbourg game on Feb 22 after the February 15 clash with Nice. The verdict affords the club a quicker path back to full strength, with the forward set to be available again soon.

Absolution for Lyon comes as a relief to the team and its supporters, who would have faced a bigger setback had the sanction been harsher.

Punchline time: Endrick's red card was so swift, even the clock filed a complaint. And if Lyon keeps rolling with light bans, their fans might start treating VAR like a quirky friend who always has your back—until you actually need help, of course.

Punchline 2: If Endrick keeps this pace, referees might begin selling season passes to the red-card theatre—front-row seats included for Strasbourg on Feb 22.