World Cup 2018: Spain ace Gerard Pique escapes red card for horror two-footed tackle against Morocco
Barcelona star went flying into Khalid Boutaib but was not even booked in pulsating 2-2 draw
GERARD PIQUE somehow escaped a red card for this horror two-footed challenge during the pulsating 2-2 draw with Morocco.
The Barcelona centre-half went flying in off his feet on Khalid Boutaib during the clash in Kaliningrad.
Fortunately there was minimal contact with Boutaib, whose first goal gave the Moroccans a shock lead, but it was certainly reckless.
It was also the first goal Morocco have scored in the World Cup since 1998.
But social media was lit up with questions over how the 2010 World Cup winner did not even receive a booking for his lunge.
One said: "Two-footed lunge, studs showing, not in control of his body. How's that not a red card for Pique?"
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE All the latest action, news, goals and gossip from the World Cup
Latest World Cup news
Another wrote: "Gerard Pique should have got a red card. Gone in two-footed seven minutes in, didn't even get a yellow for it. No VAR intervention."
A fellow user posted: "That has to be a red card on Pique. Off the ground, studs up."
Another said: "Terrible tackle from Gerard Pique. On another day that would be a straight red card."
One wrote: "Pique's challenge early in that game was textbook red. Two-footed, force went beyond the standing leg. Should have been 80+ minutes of ten men for Spain. Ref was abysmal."
A fellow user said: "Surely that Pique challenge has to be a red card."
Others saw the same incident differently.
One said: "People appealing for Pique to be booked for his tackle seriously baffle me. All tackles are dangerous and he won the ball cleanly."