Published 18/02/2025 at 19:59 GMT

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Theo Hernandez of AC Milan leaves the pitch after receiving a red card for diving during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between AC Milan and Feyenoord at San Siro Stadium on February 18, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Image credit: Getty Images

AC Milan were left with an uphill task in their UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off second leg against Feyenoord when Theo Hernandez was sent off.

The France international was given his marching orders by referee Szymon Marciniak for an offence which is not always penalised consistently.

All had been going to plan for the Rossoneri when former Feyenoord player Santiago Gimenez wiped out the Dutch side’s aggregate lead inside the opening minute.

However, it quickly went downhill from there with Hernandez shown two yellow cards – the first ruling him out of any prospective round of 16 first leg, before receiving a second six minutes after the restart.

Hernandez received his first yellow for hauling down Anis Hadj Moussa, before going down in the area for simulation, going down and over Givairo Read’s outstretched leg in the box.

TNT Sports co-commentator – Adam Virgo – applauded Marciniak’s decision and gave a scathing verdict on the antics of Hernandez.

When initially reacting to the news, the former Brighton & Hove Albion player said: “If this is the right call, then what a call from the referee.

“It’s a great call and I love seeing that now, because you want that cut out of the game. It’s blatant cheating.

“His reaction afterwards is saying: ‘I’ve been touched’. Mate, you’ve not been touched, certain yellow. Two yellows, off you go.

“It’s the correct call; I have no idea what they’re [Milan players protesting] talking about. He knows deep down [Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao] what [Hernandez] done.”

Virgo briefly looked to have given the defender the benefit of the doubt, but stressed there is no place for simulation within football.

“It’s one of those actions where you might expect the contact to happen, but it’s the correct call – it’s a yellow card.

“So many times you see a referee give a goal kick and tell the player to stand up, but I’m all in favour of that.

“You want to try and keep 11 players on the field at all times, but on the other side, you want that kicked out of the game.”

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