'Stupid' Van Dijk savaged for Netherlands red card

It was a bad night for Virgil van Dijk in Budapest as the Dutch captain was sent off for a second yellow card in the space of three minutes.

With the Netherlands already 1-0 down to Hungary in the 79th minute and Van Dijk already having been booked for dissent, the centre-back mistimed a tackle on Hungary’s Kevin Csoboth that left the referee with no choice but to send him packing.

There can be no real arguing with the second yellow, but the first was quickly brandished for dissent despite Van Dijk’s ability to talk with the referee in his position as captain.

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Dutch manager Ronald Koeman wasn’t too frustrated with his captain following the game, saying “I don’t understand it either. I think we have agreed that a captain can protest to a referee.”

Dutch press slam Van Dijk

The Dutch press, however, were not so kind. Algemeen Dagblad referred to it as an 'unpleasant evening' for the Liverpool skipper, handing him a 5/10 rating for the performance.

The rating was agreed upon in Voetbal International, who referred to it as a 'failing grade'.

The most intense criticism was seen in Sportnieuws. The outlet called Van Dijk 'stupid', writing that “The [second yellow card] took place on the side of the field in a fairly harmless position. In the last minutes of the match, it is not possible for you as a captain to show your frustration by making a foul. He made a bad impression with that. While he further shared in the general malaise of Oranje as a pacesetter.”

The Netherlands’ blushes were spared by Liverpool-linked Denzel Dumfries in the 84th minute who managed to rescue a point for the Oranje. Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai watched on as his side secured a well-earned point. 

The Netherlands now sit second in their UEFA Nations League group but will be without Van Dijk for a crucial trip to Germany on Monday night.

They are still in pole position to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition, with Hungary, and Bosnia and Herzegovina labouring behind.

For Liverpool, it means their captain will have a full week to rest before the club's next Premier League fixture against Chelsea.

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