A debut stained by a red card

Dean Huijsen’s arrival at Real Madrid was full of excitement, but his first steps in the white shirt have been anything but easy. The young center-back, who made his debut on Tuesday in the Champions League against Olympique de Marseille, barely had time to celebrate his debut: he was sent off in the second half after a harsh challenge that left the team a man down. That incident marked a bitter European debut, forcing Xabi Alonso’s side to play with ten men in a decisive stretch of the match.

The red card, which many consider excessive, had already raised alarm bells within the club. And now, on the domestic front, the Competition Committee has confirmed his punishment in LaLiga.

The official ruling

On Wednesday, the Committee announced its decision: a one-match suspension for direct expulsion, along with an additional fine under Article 121.1 of the Disciplinary Code. The ruling landed like a cold shower in Valdebebas, where there had been fears the ban could even stretch to two games.

Real Madrid submitted an appeal supported by video evidence, but the Committee rejected it. The club maintains that the sanction is unfair, especially after the CTA (Technical Committee of Referees) admitted publicly that referee Gil Manzano made the wrong call. The referee’s report deemed it a straight red card, but according to the CTA, the incident should have been punished with a yellow.

Madrid’s plan to appeal

From Chamartín, it has already been confirmed that the club will file an appeal to the next instance, and if necessary, the case could end up before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAD). Madrid’s intention is to clear the name of a player who is just beginning his career at the club and who should not be burdened with the stigma of an early suspension.

A tough start

The Huijsen case has become the first dark episode of his Real Madrid career. The Dutch-Spanish defender, signed as a long-term prospect, must now handle media scrutiny and fierce competition for places in the backline. Earning Alonso’s trust has just become more complicated, but the club continues to back his progression with confidence.