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LIGT'S OUT

Matthijs De Ligt sent off for clear handball as last man in first VAR overrule as Holland crash out of Euro 2020

VAR performed its first overrule of Euro 2020 to see Holland defender Matthijs De Ligt sent off against the Czech Republic.

The Oranje crashed out of the tournament as the Czechs took advantage of their extra man to secure a 2-0 win.

Matthijs De Ligt handballed to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity
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Matthijs De Ligt handballed to deny a clear goalscoring opportunityCredit: EPA
Referee Sergey Karasev originally showed De Ligt a yellow card
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Referee Sergey Karasev originally showed De Ligt a yellow cardCredit: AFP
But then the official was told to check the pitch-side monitor
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But then the official was told to check the pitch-side monitorCredit: Getty
Back game the referee to upgrade the yellow card to a red one
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Back game the referee to upgrade the yellow card to a red oneCredit: Getty

Commanding centre-half De Ligt was originally shown a yellow card by referee Sergey Karasev for handball just outside the penalty area.

But Karasev was then instructed by VAR Stuart Atwell to check the pitch-side monitor to decide whether De Ligt was denying Patrik Schick a clear goalscoring opportunity.

And the referee decided he WAS - and upgraded the yellow to a red.

Some on social media thought the decision was harsh as De Ligt was well off-balance as a result of his tussle with Schick.

But the majority believe it was the right decision.

One footie fan wrote on Twitter: "I think De Ligt turns badly and is falling over anyway, the opposition player does stumble over the back of him."

But Liam Macca wrote: "What was De light thinking?"

Another wrote: "De Ligt literally falls over then slaps the ball away."

Hunter Ayre was succinct in writing: "Lights off for De Ligt then.

De Ligt is consoled by a member of the Dutch coaching team
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De Ligt is consoled by a member of the Dutch coaching teamCredit: PA

"Simply awful defending and now putting his team-mates in a very thought spot."

And just 13 minutes after being reduced to ten men, Holland were also a goal down.

Tomas Holes flashed a header past Maarten Stekelenburg to put the unfancied Czech's 1-0 up, before star man Schick scored a second to set up a quarter-final clash with Denmark.

Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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