AC Milan defender Kyle Walker has expressed distress over the red card received by his former teammate Dele Alli during Alli’s debut for Como against Milan at San Siro.
Alli, who has Nigerian heritage, was making his first competitive appearance in over two years when he was sent off just minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The incident occurred in the 81st minute when Alli was introduced into the match.
Shortly after, he committed a late challenge on Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, initially earning a yellow card.
However, following a VAR review, the caution was upgraded to a red card, leading to Alli’s dismissal. Walker, witnessing the event, appealed to referee Matteo Marchetti in an attempt to prevent the sending-off.
Reflecting on the situation during his podcast, Walker shared his emotional response: “I think my heart kicked in.
“Anyone else, I would have just let him get sent off. Especially a man down at the San Siro, you think, okay, we go and do what we’ve got to do.”
He elaborated on Alli’s intentions during the tackle: “I know what he’s tried to do. We’ve all done it where you just clip the ankles of someone and they don’t get the counterattack.
“But maybe where he’s not played for a couple of years and is out of the rhythm of the game and everything like that, he’s caught Ruben a little bit too high. And that was it.”
Walker also highlighted the personal challenges Alli has faced.
“For the number of years that I’ve known Dele, for what he’s been through—which obviously he’s publicly said and I think he’s been very strong and open about that and very brave in coming out and saying what he said—to finally come back after such a long time of being out, to then get sent off for a not really cynical challenge. I think your heart just kicks in.”
After the match, Walker visited Alli to offer support, noting that Alli was understandably downcast and disappointed by the turn of events.
