Antony escapes punishment despite leaving rival in agony following shocking headbutt

Former Manchester United winger Antony escaped a red card during Real Betis’ Europa League game with Utrecht.

The Brazilian got into a tussle with left-back Souffian El Karouani and appeared to headbutt his opponent as he looked to chase onto a loose ball.

With the score locked at 0-0, Real Betis smashed a ball down the right for Antony to give chase in the 21st minute.

El Karouani was close to the forward and was being as physical as possible, but rather than just shoving him off, Antony decided to launch his head into the left-back.

Play continued, but El Karouani immediately collapsed to the floor after Antony made clean contact with his face.

The referee eventually stopped play to see how the Utrecht player was doing, but Antony avoided any initial on-field punishment.

VAR also had a look, but they didn’t deem it to be worthy of a red card, which left the Utrecht players stunned.

What made it worse for the visitors was that the ex-Man United man set up Betis’ opener.

Chucho Hernandez was the goal scorer, but Utrecht would argue that Antony shouldn’t have been on the pitch to create the chance.

Antony gets away with one

Had Antony seen red, it would have been the second time he was sent off in the space of a few days.

The winger was given his marching orders during the 1-1 draw against Girona in stoppage time.

However, you could almost certainly argue that one was harsh as he attempted an overhead kick in the box.

He was trying to put the ball back into the area for one of his teammates to attack.

He didn’t see the Girona player coming to head the ball, and connected flush in the face.

Initially the Brazilian was booked, but after the VAR advised the referee to re-watch the incident on the pitchside monitor, the yellow card was upgraded to a red for violent conduct.

He now faces a three-game domestic ban, and probably should have the same punishment in Europe as well.

But perhaps after the harsh sending off at the weekend, it has balanced out, and he’s got away with it.

He played the full game as Betis won 2-1.

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Abde Ezzalzouli made it 2-0 before Miguel Rodriguez pulled one back.

But the Spanish side held on, and Antony remaining on the pitch was controversial.