Ronald Koeman questions Van Dijk’s useless red card
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman was left perplexed by Virgil van Dijk’s “frustrating” red card in his side’s 1-1 draw with Hungary on Friday.
Van Dijk, making his 77th appearance for his country, received the first dismissal of his international career with two yellow cards in the space of three minutes in the second half.
The first booking stemmed from his protests to referee Lukas Fahndric after a foul on Donyell Malen, before committing a foul soon after to receive his marching orders.
Van Dijk’s dismissal looked to have settled the contest after Roland Sallai had smashed home Zsolt Nagy’s cross to hand Hungary a goal advantage in the first half.
But the Netherlands drew level four minutes after going down to 10 men when Denzel Dumfries headed Cody Gakpo’s free-kick beyond Denes Dibusz to seal a share of the spoils.
Speaking after the game, Koeman was left baffled by the decision to hand Van Dijk a first yellow card for discussing the foul on Malen with the referee.
“That moment was frustrating,” Koeman told the NOS. “I don’t understand it. I think we agreed that a captain can protest to a referee.
“That foul [on Malen] was good for a red card. There was no intention at all to play the ball. That Virgil then takes that second card is not convenient. He knows that himself.” said Koeman
Van Dijk’s red card also saw him become the oldest player to be sent off (33 years and 95 days) since Phillip Cocu (34 years and 313 days) against the same opponents.
The Liverpool captain had enjoyed a solid game up until his dismissal, completing more passes (145) than any other player, 99 of which came in the first 45 minutes, only adding to his frustration in his assessment at full-time.
“[The red card] is a bummer. It should not have happened. But I’m especially angry about the first,” Van Dijk told ESPN Netherlands.
“They say the captain is the only one who can talk to the referee. I walk up to him. Up tempo, but not in a nasty way, not at all. Very respectful.
“Because I felt it was a breakaway player, he did not go for the ball at all. If even the captain can not say anything … then it gets difficult.”
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