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PhrasesAt a Football MatchL'arbitro ha espulso il giocatore!
B1informal

L'arbitro ha espulso il giocatore!

The referee has sent off the player!

Pronunciation

lar-BEE-troh ah es-POOL-soh eel joh-kah-TOH-reh.

When to use it

The moment a red card is shown. The reaction differs dramatically depending on whether it is your player or the opponent who is sent off.

What it means

Ha espulso is the passato prossimo of espellere (to expel, to send off). Il giocatore is the player. Espulsione (noun) is the sending-off. If it is your player: scandal. If it is the opponent: justice.

Variations

Cartellino rosso — è giusto!

Red card — it's right!

When you agree with the sending-off decision.

Cartellino rosso — è uno scandalo!

Red card — it's a scandal!

When you disagree violently with the decision.

Due gialli fanno rosso.

Two yellows make a red.

Explaining the two-yellow-cards rule.

Mini Dialogue

— L'arbitro ha espulso il giocatore! — Giusto! Era un fallo da dietro pericoloso. — Adesso siamo in undici contro dieci. — Dobbiamo approfittarne! — Sì, adesso vinciamo sicuro.

— The referee has sent off the player! — Right! It was a dangerous foul from behind. — Now we are eleven against ten. — We must take advantage of it! — Yes, now we will definitely win.

Cultural Note

Italy is the country of catenaccio — defensive tactical football. Having a numerical advantage (undici contro dieci) is theoretically decisive, but Italian football history is full of cases where the ten-man team defended heroically and held on for a draw or even won.