DELE ALLI has been sent off just minutes into his first appearance in over two years.
The former England midfielder signed for Italian club Como in January on a free transfer.
Dele Alli made his Como debut on Saturday night but was sent for an early bath[/caption]
Players from both teams pleaded for the decision to be overturned[/caption]
Even Alli’s ex-Spurs and England teammate Kyle Walker tried to talk the referee round[/caption]
Alli last played in the Turkish Super Lig for Besiktas and has penned an 18-month deal with the Serie A side.
The 28-year-old came off the bench on Saturday against AC Milan, his first appearance since February 2023.
But the cameo quickly turned into a nightmare for the ex-Tottenham ace.
Alli was shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the closing stages at the San Siro.
He appeared to rake his studs down the back of the former Chelsea man’s leg.
Referee Matteo Marchetti was called to the monitor after an intervention from VAR.
After studying the tackle for several minutes, Marchetti decided to upgrade Alli’s yellow card to a red.
The decision sparked fury on the Como bench, with head coach
Cesc Fabregas seeing red himself shortly afterwards.
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And even Milan’s Kyle Walker – a former England and Spurs teammate of Alli – was seen begging with the ref not to send the 28-year-old off.
One fan agreed on X: “That’s a yellow. The force is so little. Slow motion make it looks 10x harder.”
Another said: “Even Walker was saying to not give him a red for it. That’s actually heartbreaking.”
While a third added: “Feel for Dele, man has gone through so much s**t and now this.”
Alli broke through as a teenager at MK Dons before earning a big-money move to Tottenham in 2015.
He has since gone on to earn 37 England caps, but his career has taken a nosedive over the past five years.
Alli spent an unhappy three years at Everton, joining Besiktas on loan in 2023.
His last game before Como’s clash in Milan was a 0-0 draw with Antalyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig on February 26, 2023.
Alli was praised for a groundbreaking interview with Manchester United legend Gary Neville later that year.
The midfielder opened up on his mental health struggles, opening up on childhood trauma including being abused and selling drugs.
