In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Colombian forward Jhon Duran received a direct red card in only his fourth appearance for Al-Nassr during a match in the Saudi Pro League on Friday. The incident occurred late in the match and has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.

Duran, who had previously joined Al-Nassr from Aston Villa in January for a staggering sum of 64 million pounds (approximately $80 million), made a significant impact by scoring four goals in his initial two league matches.

However, the forward’s night took a turn for the worse during stoppage time. In a moment when the game had seemingly paused, he was seen making contact with a light slap to the back of Ettifaq midfielder Abdulelah Al-Malki’s head. Al-Malki reacted by falling to the ground and rolling, prompting the match referee to issue a red card despite visible protests from Duran’s teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The red card proved costly for Al-Nassr, as they went on to lose the match 3-2 to Ettifaq, marking the end of their seven-match unbeaten streak. This defeat leaves Al-Nassr trailing eight points behind league leaders Al-Ittihad, who also have a game in hand, complicating their pursuit for the title.