Virgil van Dijk Expresses Anger Over First Red Card in Netherlands Draw Against Hungary

Virgil van Dijk, the captain of the Netherlands national team and Liverpool defender, voiced his frustration following his first-ever red card during a match against Hungary in the UEFA Nations League. The incident occurred on October 11, 2024, during a 1-1 draw, where Van Dijk received two yellow cards within a span of just three minutes in the second half. The first was for dissent after he protested a foul on teammate Donyell Malen, while the second was for a straightforward foul.

Van Dijk expressed particular anger regarding the first yellow card, highlighting the confusion surrounding the refereeing protocols for captains. He stated, “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... If even the captain cannot say anything, then it gets difficult.” His sentiments were echoed by Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman, who also questioned the referee's decision to issue the initial booking, suggesting that the foul on Malen warranted a red card instead.

Despite playing with ten men, the Netherlands managed to equalize through Denzel Dumfries after trailing to a Roland Sallai goal in the first half. Looking ahead, the team faces a crucial match against Germany, where they hope to secure points to improve their standing in Group A3 of the Nations League. Koeman remains confident, stating that the team's resilience in the face of adversity is commendable, even if the circumstances surrounding Van Dijk's sending-off were unfortunate.