Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne received two yellow cards across two matches within five days, culminating in a suspension for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixture against France at the Stade de France.
Confrontation in Brussels
The sequence began on a Monday evening at the King Baudouin Stadium during Belgium’s fixture. In a challenge with France’s Maxence Lacroix, Kevin De Bruyne arrived a fraction late, resulting in the French defender striking the ball directly into the Belgian midfielder’s face. Following on-field treatment, De Bruyne was required by competition rules to wait one minute on the touchline before re-entering the pitch. Television cameras captured him telling the referee to “Rot op!” (Get lost!), while Het Nieuwsblad noted a “serious curse towards the referee” before a brief discussion with the fourth official.
After halftime, De Bruyne received a yellow card for a hard challenge on Pierre Kalulu. Writing in Le Soir, analyst Philippe Albert argued that the challenge could have drawn a red card. “De Bruyne was way too nervous and could have received a red card,” Albert wrote, adding that exhaustion after an hour of play made the 35-year-old midfielder a hazard to himself.
Two Goals and a Dismissal in Liège
By Friday night at Sclessin, De Bruyne responded by scoring twice—his 39th and 40th international goals—as Belgium secured a 3-0 victory over Turkey amid chants of “Oh Kevin De Bruyne” from the crowd. However, ten minutes before full-time, he committed a foul and subsequently kicked the ball away. The referee issued a yellow card, which marked his second booking of the Nations League campaign and triggered an automatic suspension for the trip to Paris.
The booking also ruled captain Youri Tielemans out due to suspension, leaving head coach Mark van Bommel without two of his three midfielders from the Friday fixture. Analyst Marc Degryse criticized the decision in Het Laatste Nieuws, calling the yellow card for kicking the ball away “flabby.” Meanwhile, Albert questioned in Le Soir whether the booking might have been intentional to secure rest, noting that four matches in eleven days represents an enormous workload for a 35-year-old.
Van Bommel Defends His Midfielder
Head coach Mark van Bommel dismissed suggestions that the suspension was manufactured. “That is certainly not the case,” Van Bommel told Het Nieuwsblad. “I think he was frustrated and didn’t realize it was his second yellow card. Kevin always wants to play football. He is in a fantastic rhythm. But I admit: it was unnecessary, but I also picked up many unnecessary yellow cards in my career. This was one of them. But intentionally? I don’t believe that.” Speaking to Sporza, Van Bommel reiterated that De Bruyne simply acted out of frustration without realizing the accumulation.
De Bruyne himself noted after the Turkey match that Van Bommel’s high-pressing, aggressive tactical approach suits his style. “I think this playing style of Van Bommel suits me better. I always want to press high and aggressively, and also attack aggressively,” De Bruyne told Sudpresse.
Questions Remaining Ahead of Paris
With both De Bruyne and Tielemans suspended for Monday’s match at the Stade de France, Belgium must restructure its midfield under Van Bommel without two core starters. It remains unconfirmed how the tactical setup will compensate for the absences against the French side.
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