The Incredible Moment A Referee Kicks Out At Newcastle Target Diego Carlos Before Sending Him Off

Newcastle are reportedly pushing to sign Sevilla defender Diego Carlos before the transfer window slams shut.

Carlos' name may ring a bell - four years ago he was involved in a shocking incident that rocked French football.

During a Ligue 1 match between Nantes and Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, Carlos accidentally tripped French referee Tony Chapron as he was running back towards goal.

Chapron completely lost his head and aimed a kick-out at the Brazilian, and then proceeded to give him a second yellow card that saw him sent off in the most bizarre circumstances.

Carlos' red card was subsequently rescinded and Chapron, who had been a full-time referee since 1998, was given a six-month suspension.

One of the 𝘾𝙍𝘼𝙕𝙄𝙀𝙎𝙏 moments we've 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍 seen in football 😳🤯

📅 OTD in 2018, referee Tony Chapron kicked out at Diego Carlos and then sent him off, in a moment of pure Ligue 1 madness 😱

Iconic.pic.twitter.com/F1Ou6wKKfn

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 14, 2022

The 48-year-old ended up retiring from refereeing altogether not too long after and now works in the media.

If the actual incident itself wasn't funny enough, Chapron gave a hilarious explanation for his antics.

Chapron said to AFP, via Get French Football: "When I collided with Diego Carlos, I felt a sharp pain in an area where I had suffered a recent injury. In a terrible reflex, I stretched out my leg to the player. This clumsy gesture was inappropriate."

Referee Tony Chapron oddly refuses to give Zlatan Ibrahimovic match ball after his hat-trick v Lorient pic.twitter.com/6X0zZeqg6P (via @jplusun)

— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) March 24, 2015

Chapron will forever be remembered for the incredible moment of madness, but he did also once completely refuse to give Zlatan Ibrahimovic the match-ball despite scoring a hat-trick.

The Swede hit a trio of goals in a 3-1 win over Lorient back in March 2015 but Chapron, who later said he felt the striker was rude and lacked manners, was not obliging and the two rowed at the final whistle.

Ibrahimovic did eventually get the ball and took to Instagram to post a picture of his souvenir, signed by all of his teammates.