Tue Oct 15 00:02:37 UTC 2024: ## Dutch Captain Virgil van Dijk Sees Red in Hungary Draw, Calls First Yellow “Unfair”
**Budapest, Hungary (IANS):** Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk was sent off for the first time in his career during a frustrating 1-1 draw against Hungary on Friday. The defender was shown a second yellow card in the 79th minute, leaving the Dutch with ten men.
Van Dijk voiced his anger over the first yellow card, which he received for protesting to the referee after a foul on teammate Donyell Malen. “It’s a bummer, should not have happened,” he told ESPN Netherlands. “But I’m especially angry about the first. 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.”
He added, “Because I felt it was a breakaway player, he did not go for the ball at all. If even the captain cannot say anything… then it gets difficult.”
Dutch coach Ronald Koeman echoed Van Dijk’s frustration, stating that he believed a captain should be allowed to communicate with the referee. “That moment was frustrating,” Koeman said to Dutch outlet 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.”
Hungary took the lead in the 32nd minute with a volley from Roland Sollai. However, after Van Dijk’s red card, the Dutch were able to equalize with a powerful header from Denzel Dumfries.
Despite the disappointing result, the Netherlands will be looking to move on and secure a win in their next match.
First Piper 