‘Robbed’ – Man City fans fume as Casemiro escapes red card despite two fouls including ‘pulling Foden like a ragdoll’

MANCHESTER CITY fans were furious after Casemiro escaped two blatant yellow card offences during their Champions League semi-final clash.

Viewers were scratching their hands when Italian referee Daniele Orsato didn’t brandish a card to the Brazilian not once, but twice in the first half.

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Casemiro was not carded for a sliding tackle from behind on Kevin De BruyneCredit: AFP

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The Real Madrid man escaped punishment for a cynical foul on Phil FodenCredit: Getty

And Man City’s misery was compounded when Real Madrid launched an epic late fightback to win 6-5 on aggregate.

Casemiro’s first offence was a scissor-style tackle on Manchester City talisman Kevin De Bruyne, scything him down to the ground.

Orsato duly blew for a free-kick, but somehow failed to produce a yellow card for the challenge.

Then later in the half Casemiro found himself at the centre of attention again.

This time the 30-year-old midfielder cynically dragged down Phil Foden as the City man tried to launch a counter-attack.

But once again Orsato refused to punish Casemiro.

Livid City fans took to social media to complain about how the Real Madrid man managed to stay on the pitch.

One wrote: “Casemiro shouldn’t be on the pitch. We have been robbed.”

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Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey on Casemiro

“CASEMIRO was very lucky to stay on the pitch after committing two clear-cut yellow card offences in the first half.

The Real Madrid midfielder produced a poor and reckless challenge on Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne early on.

It was Italian referee Daniele Orsato’s chance to stamp his authority on the game but he didn’t.

That led to a bust-up between Luka Modric and Aymeric Laporte with Vinicius Jnr grabbing the City defender by the throat.

Orsato cautioned both aggressor Modric and retaliator Laporte for his slap on the Croat and I felt that was the correct outcome.

Yet Casemiro should have received another yellow card when he pulled back Phil Foden.

It was another nailed on caution for the Brazilian but Orsato set his tolerance level too low.”

Another added: “Ref letting Casemiro do whatever he wants.”

A third onlooker added: “Honestly he should have been red carded, so lucky to be on pitch.”

Meanwhile Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand claimed Casemiro dragged Foden down “like a rag doll” in the second incident.

He said on BT Sport: “This one, he drags him back like a rag doll by his shirt. I don’t know how he doesn’t get a yellow card there.

“I mean if both of them are to the letter of the law then he’s probably off the pitch, well he is off the pitch.

“But he got away with it. I think he’s cute, he stays down [and] pretends he’s injured. He got away with it.”