Ajax defender Edson Álvarez won’t be available to play against PSV this Sunday after receiving his tenth yellow card of the season. The 25-year-old Mexican played the full ninety minutes in Ajax’s 3-1 victory over FC Emmen on Sunday. After just half an hour, Álvarez made a challenge on Emmen attacker Ole Romney, which prompted referee Marc Nagtegaal to dish out a yellow card.
Álvarez immediately realised that the card would cost him the game against PSV, and he proceeded to protest that it was his first offence of the game. Nagtegaal stuck with his initial decision. Edson Álvarez is now the first Ajax player ever to receive ten yellow cards in a single Eredivisie season. Receiving ten yellow cards in one season results in a suspension.
Speaking to ESPN after the game, Álvarez said ‘I’m very angry to be honest. In my opinion it was a normal foul, I don’t think I deserved a yellow card. It was also my first offence in the match. Due to a bad decision [from the referee], I will miss a very important match.’ When questioned on his style of play, the defender said ‘It’s my tenth yellow card, but that’s my style. I can’t change that. I don’t want to change that. I’m a player who always plays on the edge and referees can judge that however they want.’
Ajax will travel to Eindhoven on Sunday without Edson Álvarez who has played 27 of his side’s 29 league games so far this season. The clash sees second-place Ajax take on third-place PSV. Both teams are currently level on 62 points. A victory for either side will put pressure on league leaders Feyenoord, who have 70 points after their 3-0 win over Cambuur.
