'I couldn't leave this league without a red card' - Sergio Ramos joked after being sent off in Monterrey's win over Pumas

In Monterrey's 3-1 victory over Pumas at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Spaniard Sergio Ramos received his first red card since arriving in Liga MX after kicking Guillermo Martínez in the final minutes while his team was leading 3-0. Ramos took the incident with humor and stated on social media, "I couldn't leave this league without being sent off."

"A very important victory against a tough opponent in a difficult stadium. Time to rest and focus on the next one. PS: It was obvious I wasn't going to leave this league without a red card. +3 and we keep going," Ramos posted.

Pumas and Monterrey entered Sunday’s match under different circumstances.

The hosts had enjoyed a strong start under Efraín Juárez, with two wins and a draw since he took over as head coach. In contrast, Rayados arrived reeling from their Champions Cup elimination at the hands of the Whitecaps, leaving Martín Demichelis under pressure to secure a positive result to keep his job. Goals from Canales, Fimbres, and Berterame sealed a 3-1 victory for the visitors in a match overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions.

"Club Universidad Nacional expresses its deepest rejection and displeasure with today's refereeing, both on the field and in the VAR. On more than one occasion, our team was disadvantaged by clear mistakes that directly impacted the score," the club said in a statement. "Mexican football deserves to have refereeing that lives up to the fans and the clubs of Liga MX. We are an institution that will never stop raising its voice against a refereeing performance like the one today."

Liga MX will take a break for the FIFA international break. When it resumes, Rayados will host Club Tijuana on Matchday 13 without Ramos. The match will take place on March 29. Pumas will visit León on March 30, aiming to earn points that will help them get closer to the Play-In spots.