This is a first.
In a time where a wrong tackle, a wrong word to the referee (ask Jozy Altidore), or a wrong touch on the referee (ask Di Maria) can get you red-carded in football, one may be forgiven with associating only the above actions with being handed your marching orders.
However, on Sunday, in Barcelona clash with Celta Vigo, a new criteria entered the list; throwing grass at another player's face.
In the Catalan giants' 1-0 win in their trip to Balaídos, Chilean ace Fabian Orellana was shown a straight red card after grabbing a piece of the turf and releasing it in the direction of Sergio Busquets' face.
The reason? He was not happy with the Barcelona midfielder's time wasting during the game and thus decided to hurl grass at him in anger. Most of it missed the Spaniard's face, but a slim portion was enough to send Busquets to the floor clutching his face.
Referee Inaki Vicandi Garrido was not forgiving and went straight for his pocket, producing a red card, leaving Celta Vigo with only ten players on the pitch. Watch the incident in the VINE below.
French defender Jeremy Mathieu had already scored past goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez 15 minutes prior to this incident. The 73rd minute strike proved to be the winning goal, as the Blaugrana maintained their four-point lead over rivals Real Madrid.
Mathieu, however, felt his side were lucky to walk away with all three points, admitting after the game that their opponents were the dominant side for the first 45 minutes of the game.
"Sometimes you have to suffer when you win," said the Barcelona center back. "It was a very tough match. After the international break it’s more difficult as your rhythm always drops a bit.
"Celta were the better team in the first half and in the second we benefited from a goal at a free kick. Sometimes you win in that way, when it’s down to small details."
