PORTO bad boy Pepe appeared to KNEE Manchester City's Raheem Sterling during their hot-tempered Champions League clash.
The Citizens ran out 3-1 winners at the Etihad on Wednesday night to kickstart their European campaign.
Pep Guardiola's side came from behind after Luis Diaz put the Portuguese champs ahead.
Sergio Aguero's penalty, Ilkay Gundogan's free-kick and Ferran Torres' goal on his City Champions League debut secured the comeback victory.
But Portuguese centre-back Pepe, 37, let his frustration get the better of him late in the second-half.
The former Real Madrid star screamed at Sterling, 25, after the England forward went down softly, in his eyes, in search of a penalty.
Pepe then appeared to drag his knee into Sterling's body, knocking him over in a moment of madness.
Somehow the Porto skipper escaped a red card despite VAR being in use during the Champions League.
And fuming fans couldn't believe renowned hard man Pepe had not been given his marching orders.
One said: "How has Pepe not been sent off for that knee on Sterling."
Another added: "How does Pepe get away with that assault on Sterling."
A third commented: "I don't understand how either. Seems like VAR went to sleep once again."
Sterling appeared to escape any injury from the incident but City did suffer a huge blow with the news Fernandinho is out for up to six weeks with what looked like a muscle strain in his leg.
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