Nicolás Tagliafico has been suspended for one match, the KNVB reports through official channels on Monday afternoon. Ajax’s left back was sent off the field within half an hour during the season’s opening game against Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday, and is now suspended for a game.

During and after the game at Het Kasteel there was a lot of work to do to get Tagliafico kicked out, who missed the ball when executing a tackle on Mohamed Rayhi, but then got the leather on his arm. As Tagliafico was the last defender on behalf of the Amsterdammers, the incident was judged by arbiter Jochem Kamphuis as ‘taking away a scoring opportunity’.

His injured teammate Lisandro Martínez was critical of Kamphuis’ decision via social media and trainer Erik ten Hag did not blame his player after the game: “There is nothing he can do about it. Nico is an absolute strongman for this team, a clever player with aggressiveness as his trademark”.

The red card for Tagliafico remains, despite the dissatisfaction, so the Argentine misses the first home game of the new season. Ajax will receive RKC Waalwijk in the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Sunday afternoon. The Amsterdammers currently occupy seventh place in the Eredivisie on goal, after the ten-man Sparta match was won 0-1.