Brazil legend Marta exited the pitch in tears on Wednesday after being sent off in her side’s 2-0 defeat by World Cup holders Spain which left them in danger of a group-stage exit in the women’s Olympic football tournament.
Marta was shown a straight red card in first-half stoppage time in Bordeaux for a rash and dangerous high tackle on Spain captain Olga Carmona right in front of the referee.
The 38-year-old was inconsolable as she walked off the pitch in what could turn out to be her final act at an Olympic Games.
The multiple winner of the Fifa women’s world player of the year award is appearing at her sixth Olympics and featured in the teams that won silver in 2004 and 2008.
Her hopes of appearing again in this tournament first depend on whether Brazil make it through to the quarter-finals.
Defending champions Canada reached the quarterfinals of the women's Olympic football tournament on Wednesday thanks to a 1-0 win over Colombia in Nice hours after they had an appeal against their six-point deduction dismissed.
With the top two teams in each of the three groups advancing, along with two best third-placed sides, Canada now led by assistant coach Andy Spence, needed maximum points against Colombia to progress from Group A.
