Virgil van Dijk has admitted he’s ‘angry’ after being sent off for the first time in his international career during the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw with Hungary on Friday night.
The Liverpool star received two yellows in three minutes late in the second half as his side failed to win their Nations League clash.
Roland Sallai had previously put Hungary ahead and, with tensions boiling over, Van Dijk was booked for protesting after a foul on Donyell Malen.
He received his marching orders after committing a foul mere moments later.
Virgil van Dijk has admitted he’s ‘angry’ after being sent off for the first time in his international career during the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw with Hungary on Friday night
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Ronald Koeman’s side then earned a draw following a goal from Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries in the 83rd minute.
And Van Dijk has admitted he was ‘angry’ at being booked for dissent, though admitted it ‘should not have happened’.
“[The red card] is a bummer, should not have happened. But I’m especially angry about the first,” he told ESPN Netherlands.
“They say the captain is the only one who can talk to the referee. I walk up to him.
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“Up tempo, but not in a nasty way, not at all. Very respectful.
“Because I felt it was a breakaway player, he did not go for the ball at all. If even the captain can not say anything … then it gets difficult.”
Van Dijk’s first booking also riled Koeman, who dubbed the incident ‘frustrating’.
“That moment was frustrating,” said the former Everton, Southampton and Barcelona boss.
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“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.
“That Virgil then takes that second card is not convenient. He knows that himself.”
The Netherlands are next in action against Germany on Monday.
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Virgil van Dijk was initially booked for dissent during the Netherlands’ draw with Hungary
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Germany currently have seven points from three matches, which is two more than the Netherlands.
Koeman has no plans to add to his squad following Van Dijk’s dismissal, which rules him out of that exciting showdown.
And he says he was pleased with the character his team showed against Hungary as they secured a crucial point.
“We didn’t surrender, we went to play one-on-one and made the equaliser,” he said.
Virgil van Dijk’s blushes were spared with Denzel Dumfries netting late in the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw with Hungary
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“Then they [Hungary] created some dangerous situations, but we defended well.
“That way you leave with a reasonable feeling.”