Rafael Leão was sent off during a friendly match between Portugal and Chile following a violent outburst against opponent Roman. Local media reports indicate the forward grabbed the player’s neck and delivered a slap or punch, resulting in an immediate expulsion during the team’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
The details of the altercation
The incident, characterized by some local reports as a moment of “folly,” saw the Portuguese attacker lose his composure during the match. According to reports, the confrontation escalated rapidly when Leão placed his hands around the neck of the Chilean player. This was followed by a strike to the face, which various outlets described as either a slap or a punch.
The referee responded to the brawl by issuing a red card, removing Leão from the pitch. While the reports agree on the sequence of events—the neck grab followed by the strike—there is a slight variation in how the physical contact was framed, with some sources emphasizing the “slap” and others reporting a “punch.”
Impact on World Cup preparations
The expulsion occurs as Portugal continues its build-up toward the 2026 World Cup. Although the clash against Chile was a friendly, the nature of the incident and the subsequent red card create a disciplinary complication for the squad ahead of the tournament.
