Pepe enhanced his reputation as one of soccer's biggest nutcases on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey clash against Barcelona.
In the 69th minute of Real Madrid's 2-1 defeat at the Bernabeu, the Portugal international deliberately stamped on the hand of Lionel Messi while he was lying on the ground. He had already been yellow carded and had referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez spotted it, a red would undoubtedly have followed.
Even pro-Madrid newspaper Marca have condemned the actions of a player who received a 10-match ban in the 2008-09 season for kicking Getafe's Francisco Casquero while he was on the ground
Pepe's disciplinary record is horrendous - six red cards in a Real shirt and plenty more of the yellow variety. But it is not just these random acts of violence which make him one of the most inscrutable players in La Liga. It is the constant histrionics - again on show against Barcelona when he collapsed clutching his face having not been touched by Cesc Fabregas - he employs in an attempt to get opponents yellow or red carded for minor offences. A hard man is one thing, but that species of player who regularly hands out punishment only to feign injury - Joey Barton is another guilty of this - when on the receiving end must be considered among the worst sort of pond life in the soccer eco-system.
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Denis Doyle / Getty Images
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