Dele Alli sent off in first match for two years
Former England midfielder Dele Alli was sent off less than 10 minutes into his first professional match for two years as new club Como were beaten by AC Milan in Serie A.
Dele came on as an 81st minute substitute for his Como debut but was sent off in second-half stoppage time for a rash challenge on Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Como went on to lose the game 2-1, with Christian Pulisic and Tijani Reijnders scoring in the second half for Milan at the San Siro after Lucas da Cunha put the visitors ahead before the break.
Dele, who previously played for Tottenham and was part of the England side that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, signed for Como before Christmas after a long period out of the game.
He had not played since a spell on loan at Besiktas from Everton, with his last game coming in February 2023.
The 28-year-old signed for the Italian top-flight debutants in January and trained with them for a month before being named as an unused sub in the 2-1 defeat by Roma on 2 March.
Dele was sent on by Como manager Cesc Fabregas to replace goal scorer Da Cunha but a clumsy tackle on compatriot Loftus-Cheek saw referee Matteo Marchetti upgrade his initial booking to a red card following a Video Assistant Referee review.
The VAR review showed Dele's studs catching the leg of Loftus-Cheek and
Marchetti had little option but to send him off, despite Milan defender Kyle Walker - a team-mate of Dele's at Russia 2018 - also trying to plead his case with the official.
Fabregas, who was also dismissed late on, refused to make excuses for Dele after the game.
"Dele Alli is a goal scorer. I tried to give him an opportunity," Fabregas told DAZN. "A serious mistake by an experienced player. Clear red, he left the team at a time when it could have made it 2-2."
In an emotional interview with Gary Neville in July 2023, Dele revealed he was sexually abused at the age of six and was dealing drugs aged eight.
He also admitted drinking alcohol and taking sleeping pills during his career but emphasised his desire to return to playing after receiving support for his off-field problems.
The result means Como stay 13th in Serie A, six points above the relegation zone, while Milan are seventh.
-
Former England player Dele Alli gets sent off after 9 minutes in first soccer match in two years
Dele Alli’s first professional appearance in more than two years lasted just nine minutes before he was sent off. The former England international was shown a straight red card late on in Como’s ...Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Reijnders saves Milan as Dele Alli sent off on Como debut
Tijjani Reijnders saved AC Milan's skin in Saturday's 2-1 win against Serie A upstarts Como, who gave Dele Alli his debut from the bench only for the former England international to be sent off ...Yahoo Sports - 7h -
Dele Alli sent off 10 minutes into Serie A debut – despite Kyle Walker’s protests
Dele Alli endured a nightmare return on his first competitive appearance in more than two years as he was sent off less than 10 minutes into his debut for Serie A side Como.Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Milan complete turnaround to beat Como as Dele Alli is sent off on debut
Every Serie A match is available to watch LIVE with Home of Serie A on OneFootball to users in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Find out more here.Milan came back from a goal behind to register 2-1 ...Yahoo Sports - 7h -
Fabregas: ‘Como happy to lose like this, but Dele Alli grave mistake’
Cesc Fabregas insists Como are happy to ‘lose like this, you can call me a loser’ after their dramatic defeat to Milan, but is critical of Dele Alli for the red card. ‘It was a grave mistake.’...Yahoo Sports - 8h -
Serie A: Milan vs Como – probable line-ups and where to watch on TV
Rafael Leao will return to Milan’s starting XI in a key Serie A match against Como and Cesc Fabregas, one of the coaches linked with the Rossoneri job next season.It kicks off at 18:00 CET (17:00 ...Yahoo Sports - 18h -
Pulisic scores 2 to give Milan 'very important' win
Christian Pulisic was the hero for AC Milan on Saturday with his two goals helping the Rossoneri end a three-match losing streak in Serie A.ESPN - 6d -
European football: Barcelona game called off after club doctor dies
Osasuna match postponed by death of Carles Miñarro Garcia Barcelona extend ‘heartfelt condolences’ to his family Barcelona called off their match against Osasuna on Saturday night after ...The Guardian - Mar. 8 -
AC Milan set to complete permanent deal for on-loan Manchester City first-team player
Kyle Walker is expected to complete a permanent move to AC Milan when his loan spell with the club finishes in the summer, as per a new report.Walker, 34, lost his place in Manchester City’s ...Yahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Six straight! Late Jalen Green takeover rallies Rockets (43-25) past Bulls, extends streak
Trailing with six minutes left, Jalen Green took over with 11 efficient points late as Houston rallied past Chicago to win its sixth straight game.Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Dick Vitale tears up on ACC Championship broadcast while talking about recent cancer battle
Dick Vitale became emotional Saturday night while talking about his most recent cancer battle while announcing top-ranked Duke's 73-62 victory over No. 13 Louisville in the Atlantic Coast ...Yahoo Sports - 25m -
Pogba watches LAFC fall to MLS defeat
Former France international midfielder Paul Pogba was in the stands as Los Angeles FC fell to a second straight defeat in Major League Soccer with a 1-0 loss on Saturday to Austin FC. Pogba, who is ...Yahoo Sports - 26m -
Top performers from Day 1 of OT7 competition
Top performers from Day 1 of actionYahoo Sports - 27m -
Vassell scores 22 points and Spurs hold off Pelicans, who were without Williamson
Devin Vassell scored 22 points and the San Antonio Spurs held on to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 119-115 on Saturday night. Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes each had 19 points for San Antonio ...Yahoo Sports - 27m
More in Sports
-
Curry has 28 points, Kerr becomes Warriors' regular-season victory leader in 97-94 win over Knicks
Stephen Curry had 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists two days after becoming the first player in NBA history with 4,000 3-pointers and a day after turning 37, leading the Golden State ...ABC News - 14m -
Proctor, Knueppel carry No. 1 Duke past No. 13 Louisville 73-62 for 2nd ACC title in 3 years
Tyrese Proctor scored 19 points on six 3-pointers, Kon Knueppel added 18 points and No. 1 Duke defeated 13th-ranked Louisville 73-62 on Saturday night to clinch its second Atlantic Coast Conference ...ABC News - 14m -
Lendeborg's double-double helps UAB advance to AAC title game with 66-56 win over North Texas
Yaxel Lendeborg scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead No. 3 seed UAB to a 66-56 victory over No. 2 seed North Texas in an American Athletic Conference Tournament semifinalABC News - 15m -
Six straight! Late Jalen Green takeover rallies Rockets (43-25) past Bulls, extends streak
Trailing with six minutes left, Jalen Green took over with 11 efficient points late as Houston rallied past Chicago to win its sixth straight game.Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Women's Bracketology: UCSD seals first bid, Harvard's win keeps Ivy intrigue alive
After Harvard sealed its NCAA tournament spot, the number of Ivy teams in the field remains unclear.ESPN - 21m