In the biggest shock transfer of the winter transfer window, Aston Villa star striker Duran joined Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr last month. The Saudis are understood to have paid £64m plus add-ons for the Colombia international, who is set to earn a whopping £16.7m-a-year at his new club.
Al Nassr suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat to eighth-placed Al Ettifaq on Friday night, ending their seven-game unbeaten run in the Saudi Pro League and further denting their hopes of catching rivals Al Ittihad at the top of the table.
However, the biggest moment of the game came in the 92nd minute, when Duran was shown a straight red card after a clash with one of the opposition players. To show his disappointment with the result, the Colombian striker playfully hit Al Ettifaq midfielder Abdulelah Almalki on the back of the head, causing the 30-year-old to fall to the ground and appeal to the referee, who punished Duran with a red card.
Immediately after Duran was sent off for the incident, captain Ronaldo went to see the referee but it was too late.
There were also reactions on social media showing shock at the referee’s decision.
“So they looked at VAR and decided it was a red card?”.
“What upset me was the way Almalki fell to the ground”.
“The player was rolling on the ground as if he had been shot, that slap wouldn’t even hurt a 5-year-old child”.
“This is probably the most ridiculous red card I’ve ever seen”.
“Duran was red carded by an actor”.