Arsenal target Denzel Dumfries was dismissed after full-time against Argentina last night, with many wondering how the Netherlands star got a red card.
The Dutchman – who cost Inter Milan €14m (£12m) back in 2021 – was given a red card by Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz after the penalty shootout, on a night where the referee totally lost control of the World Cup Quarter-Final clash.
How did Dumfries get a red card against Argentina?
Well, the Netherlands international received his marching orders following a heated confrontation with Argentina’s coaching staff.
It was Dumfries who handed Argentina the chance to double their 1-0 lead in normal time after fouling Marcos Acuna just inside the box, with Lionel Messi confidently dispatching the penalty in the 73rd minute.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner then rubbed it in the face of Louis van Gaal by adopting Juan Roman Riquelme’s famous celebration, hitting back at the Dutchman for his treatment of the South American at Barcelona back in 2002.
A stunning brace from Wout Weghorst to level things up at 2-2 saw the game eventually go to penalties, which is where Dumfries lost his head after misses from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis led to a 4-3 win for Argentina in the shootout.
While the South Americans celebrated wildly, the Inter Milan No.2 took out his anger on one member of the Argentina coaching staff, which caused yet another melee between both nations.
Lahoz – who brandished a World Cup record 18 yellow cards inside the Lusail Stadium – noticed it was Dumfries who started the brawl, and proceeded to hand him a red card.
Denzel Dumfries profile
First name: Denzel
Last name: Dumfries
Nationality: Netherlands
Date of birth: 18th April 1996
Place of birth: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Age: 26
Salary: £55,000-a-week
Position: Right-back
Arsenal could sign Denzel Dumfries
Mikel Arteta is said to be interested in bringing Dumfries to the Emirates Stadium, so the Spaniard may have been alarmed to see the Dutchman completely lose his cool after full-time.
It was Calcio Mercato Web in Italy who made the claim, with the Gunners supposedly keen to bolster their options in the right-back department.
If the move does happen, Arteta may have to speak to Dumfries about his temperament, after a chaotic evening in which he gave away a penalty and also received a red card.
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