Dele Alli and Loftus-Cheek joke after debut red card: ‘I didn’t even know it was me’ | OneFootball

Dele Alli told Ruben Loftus-Cheek that he ‘didn’t even know it was for me’ when the referee sent him off on his debut during Como’s 2-1 loss away against Milan on Saturday, after the Englishman was had his yellow card upgraded to a red for accidentally stamping on his former England teammate.

Alli made his first competitive appearance in over two years as a late substitute in Como’s 2-1 loss away to Milan in San Siro on Saturday evening. He had been on trial with Cesc Fabregas’s newly-promoted side over the winter, before earning a contract in the new year.

He was called up to the matchday squad for the first time against Roma at the beginning of the month, and finally made a return to competitive action after a torrid two years out of the game against Milan on one of Europe’s biggest stages.

Unfortunately for the former Tottenham man, his Como debut lasted just 10 minutes as he was sent off for catching Loftus-Cheek on the back of the calf with his studs raised. Originally shown a yellow, a VAR review resulted in the decision being upgraded to a red.

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 15: Referee Matteo Marchetti shows the yellow card to Dele Alli of Como 1907 during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 15, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Como players pleaded with the officials not to send him off, as did close friend and former Tottenham teammate Kyle Walker, who was playing at right-back for Milan.

Dele Alli and Loftus-Cheek joke about Milan-Como red card

Alli has since given an update the morning after his eventful 10-minute cameo sharing a light-hearted take on last night’s events: “I was always going to announce my return in some way after these past two years, would rather it had been with a goal, but feels good to be back,” the 28-year-old joked in an Instagram story.

In a later post on Instagram, Alli shared a fascinating screenshot of his conversation with Loftus-Cheek admitting that the “picture looked bad,” and that he had tried to “clip” Loftus-Cheek’s heel. He also added: “When the ref went to var I didn’t even know it was for me.”

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 15: Referee Matteo Marchetti consult the VAR during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 15, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Loftus-Cheek then revealed that he “stayed down coz I was blowing,” in the final stages of the game.