Former player Mesut Özil took a sly dig at his ex-club Real Madrid’s rivals Atlético Madrid amid reports of the introduction of blue cards in football.
A new blue card is set to be introduced to prevent players from showing dissent or committing cynical fouls, leading to their temporary removal from the field of play for 10 minutes.
Given Atlético Madrid’s reputation for playing a defensive and physical style of football under manager Diego Simeone, Ozil couldn’t resist poking fun at their approach. He posted on X, suggesting humorously:
“So Atlético Madrid will only play with 6 players then?”
Ozil, who moved from Werder Bremen to Real Madrid in 2010 for €18 million, enjoyed three successful seasons at the Santiago Bernabéu, showcasing his playmaking abilities. Despite his brilliance, he never managed to secure the Champions League title during his time with Real.
Known for his light-hearted social media presence, especially after retiring at the end of the 2022-23 season, Ozil didn’t miss the opportunity to tease Tottenham Hotspur in December 2023. After Spurs endured a record of losing five consecutive Premier League games despite taking an early lead in each, Ozil quipped:
“Who else should be able to break that record? Bottle job FC is back.”
While the blue card concept promises to revolutionize football by ensuring fair punishment for misconduct, its effectiveness remains to be seen and could potentially lead to longer and more drawn-out matches.
