Real Madrid defender Marcelo has been
called “an actor” for his antics in their 2-0
Champions League quarter-final first-leg
defeat by Wolfsburg.
The Brazilian appeared to thrust his head
towards Wolfsburg midfielder Max Arnold’s
midriff, before going to the ground,
clutching his face.
Arnold was given a yellow card, while
Marcelo was not penalised.
“Marcelo is an actor,” Wolfsburg manager
Dieter Hecking told German media after the
game.
“That annoyed me, because he has no need.”
Marcelo will face no further action from
UEFA. European football’s governing body
would only act retrospectively if the incident
had been missed by match officials.
Swiss full-back Ricardo Rodriguez opened
the scoring in the first leg with a penalty,
before Arnold struck the second. The return
leg takes place in Spain on April 12, reports
the BBC.
Marcelo’s play-acting was described as
“embarrassing” and “disgraceful” by former
England manager Glenn Hoddle.
His fellow ITV pundit, ex-Manchester United
midfielder Roy Keane, called the Madrid
player’s dive “shocking”.
Arnold, who described his side’s win as
“breathtaking”, simply said of Marcelo: “I
wish I had such beautiful hair too.”
