Tottenham defender Kevin Danso was shown a red card only three minutes after coming onto the pitch in the Premier League side’s pre-season clash against Chelsea in Sydney on Saturday night AEST.
Danso had come on for new signing Jan Paul van Hecke at half-time and was sent off in the 48th minute after being ruled to have taken down Blues forward Joao Pedro.
The 27-year-old had let the ball run across his body before losing his footing and allowing Pedro to get in behind him and bear down on goal. Instead of letting him run in towards goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, he opted to take down the attacker.
Referee Alex King did not hesitate in producing a red card that forced Spurs to play the remainder of the second stanza with 10 men.
Kevin Danso has been SENT OFF just three minutes after being substituted on! 🤯
Despite it being a pre-season match, a red card is shown for denying João Pedro a goalscoring opportunity 🔴
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“Roberto De Zerbi cannot believe it!” commentator Ben Homer said on Paramount+’s coverage.
Andy Harper added: “A pretty innocuous type pass to Danso… who’s body was on the field but his mind still in the dressing room apparently.
“All ends up the Austrian. Friendly or not, the referee had no alternative.
“It’s a definite opportunity for goal scoring, particularly the form Joao Pedro has been in.
“Kevin Danso barely broken into a sweat, now he’s off for an early shower!”
Cole Palmer took the resulting free-kick and went close to bending the ball into the far corner of Kinsky’s net.
At the time of the incident, Chelsea and Spurs were locked at 1-1 after Estevao cancelled out Sandro Tonali’s first goal for Tottenham.