Pepe in trouble again: Punch thrown and direct red card shown – VIDEO

In a recent Sporting-Porto match, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the home team, veteran defender Pepe was issued yet another straight red card.

At 40 years of age, Pepe displayed a familiar attitude on the pitch. During a play designed to speed up the game, the defender struck Sporting’s Matheus Reis in the face, causing Reis to bleed from the mouth.

The incident was reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), who then decided to dismiss Pepe from the game. The expulsion was met with an ironic applause from Pepe – an action which sparked tension between Pepe, formerly of Real Madrid, and Sporting.

This isn’t the first time Pepe has had a run-in with Sporting. In 2022, during a significant melee, the defender was infamously noted for kicking an opposing team official.