Virgil van Dijk mentioned he was “indignant” with the choice to provide him the primary of two yellow playing cards as he was despatched off for the primary time in his Netherlands profession in Friday’s 1-1 Nations League draw with Hungary.
The Liverpool defender obtained two yellow playing cards in three minutes late within the second half, the primary for dissent and the second a foul which was a simple reserving.
That first card, for protesting after Donyell Malen was introduced down as he surged in direction of purpose with the Dutch trailing their hosts 1-0, left Van Dijk significantly annoyed.
“[The red card] is a bummer, mustn’t have occurred. However I am particularly indignant concerning the first,” Van Dijk instructed ESPN Netherlands.
“They are saying the captain is the one one who can speak to the referee. I stroll as much as him. Up tempo, however not in a nasty method, in no way. Very respectful. As a result of I felt it was a breakaway participant, he didn’t go for the ball in any respect. If even the captain cannot say something … then it will get troublesome.”
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman was additionally left perplexed by his captain’s first reserving.
“That second was irritating,” Koeman instructed the NOS. “I do not perceive it. I feel we agreed {that a} captain can protest to a referee.
“That foul [on Malen] was good for a purple card. There was no intention in any respect to play the ball. That Virgil then takes that second card is just not handy. He is aware of that himself.”
Koeman confirmed he is not going to add to his squad for Monday’s go to to Germany, who head Nations League Group A3 with seven factors from three matches, two extra factors than the Netherlands.
It makes it an important fixture by which the Dutch may rise to the highest of the pool, or conversely be minimize 5 factors adrift with two video games to play.
Koeman was left with a “affordable feeling” after the attract Budapest by which his facet trailed to a first-half purpose from Roland Sallai, however equalised late on by way of Denzel Dumfries, a purpose that got here after Van Dijk’s purple card.
“We did not give up, we went to play one-on-one and made the equaliser,” he added. “Then they [Hungary] created some harmful conditions, however we defended nicely. That method you allow with an affordable feeling.”
Van Dijk is not obtainable to characteristic in Netherlands’ conflict towards Germany on Monday and has subsequently left the nationwide camp to return to Liverpool. Koeman is not going to be naming a substitute for him within the squad.
Data from Reuters contributed to this report.
