American international Sergiño Dest (23) has apologized on Instagram for the two consecutive yellow cards he received for unsportsmanlike conduct against Trinidad and Tobago (2-1 defeat). Dest’s behavior even irritated his own teammates. After receiving a yellow card for kicking the ball, Dest continued to rage at the ref, earning a second yellow card in the same phase.
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After receiving a yellow card for protesting, the right winger who is on loan from Barcelona to PSV kept going and threw a cynical kiss at the ref. Teammate Ream was furious and wiped out Dest on the field, followed by goalkeeper Matt Turner.
Due to the completely unnecessary red card after 39 minutes, Dest caused his country problems in the second leg of the quarter-final of the Nations League. The US lost the match against Trinidad and Tobago 2-1, but fortunately won the first leg 3-0.
Things must have been tense in the Americans’ locker room at halftime. “I can’t repeat here much of what was said at half-time, that was private,” Ream said. “It was a total lack of respect for the guys who played and those who were on the bench. It was a lack of respect for football even and for the referees.”
Goalkeeper Turner swipes at Dest. — © Getty Images for USSF
“It’s inexcusable,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said. “That phase was surreal.” To then anoint: “He is a young player and a fantastic part of this team. He will learn and grow from this. He knows he made a stupid mistake and has apologized to the entire group. We just move on.”
In the meantime, Sergiño Dest also apologized on Instagram and was completely embarrassed. “I would like to apologize for my behavior to my teammates, staff, fans and the entire nation. It was unacceptable, selfish and immature. I let my team down! It’s something I have to learn from and it won’t happen again!”
Dest was not ready for his test piece. Earlier this year he was sent off for a scuffle in the international match against Mexico. — © AP
Dest is in any case suspended for the semi-finals in March 2024, but the question is whether it will remain there. He already missed this year’s Nations League final after a red card for a scuffle against Mexico, which earned him a three-match suspension. He is the first American international ever to receive two red cards in one calendar year.
