'I didn't earn red card on purpose, I would never do something like that'

The Argentine received the red card in the 82nd minute of the game against Akhmat Grozny, meaning that he will be suspended for his side's next league match against CSKA Moscow at the weekend.

However, reports emerged in the Argentine press claiming that he got sent off intentionally, and the player himself has hit back at those rumours.

"I was going to arrive on Sunday in Argentina, but as we played on Thursday for the Europa League in France, they proposed that I not return to Russia and travel directly from there on Friday," Paredes told 'Fox Sports Argentina'.

"It's all a lie. Nothing happened here. It's something that was invented in Argentina.

"I didn't earn red card on purpose, I would never do something like that. When I heard that this was being talked about, I talked with Zenit sporting director and he told me that they trust me."