Portugal's Rafael Leão has defended his red card punch on Chile's Ivan Román during Saturday's World Cup warmup friendly, claiming he acted to protect teammate João Cancelo. The AC Milan forward was shown straight red in the 44th minute after intervening in a physical confrontation. Leão later wrote on Instagram that he 'never intended to hurt' Román, framing his actions as necessary team solidarity.

Portugal won the friendly 2-1, but the incident overshadowed the result as coach Roberto Martinez expressed disappointment with the sending off. Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes praised Leão's protective gesture, noting the importance of teammates supporting each other during World Cup preparations. The 26-year-old's suspension will cost him Wednesday's warmup against Nigeria but keeps him available for Portugal's June 17 World Cup opener versus DR Congo.

Martinez acknowledged the physical nature of international football, stating Leão's reaction represented exactly the kind of frustration that can derail a tournament campaign. While understanding his player's intent, the coach emphasized that controlling emotions will be crucial when Portugal's championship aspirations are on the line. Leão's absence from midweek training creates a brief tactical question mark for a squad balancing preparation with discipline ahead of the global tournament.