Furious Mats Hummels slams "absurd" Michael Oliver after controversial red card

Mats Hummels has blasted English referee Michael Oliver as "absurd" after being sent off in Borussia Dortmund's defeat to Ajax.

The German was giving his marching orders before the contest had even reached the 30 minute mark for a tackle on Ajax's Antony - despite replays showing little contact, after Hummels had won the ball.

Ajax eventually ran out 3-1 winners on the nighth, a result which puts them in the Group C driving seat, sitting top with a six-point cushion over both Dortmund and Sporting Lisbon.

Hummels had actually attempted to pull out of the tackle, displaying no malice in the challenge whatsoever; yet referee Oliver still reached for his back pocket and dismissed the World Cup winner.

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Michael Oliver signals for a medic as Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels reacts ( Image:

REUTERS)

The tackle was then subject to a VAR review, in which the decision was surprisingly upheld - ending Hummels night prematurely.

Speaking to DAZN after the game, the German international made his feelings over the sending off crystal clear, claiming: "I have no idea how you can give red as a referee at supposed Champions League level.

"I was in complete disbelief, that's an absurd wrong decision.

"The referee decided the game today and I think he knows that. I'll ask him about it again in the dressing room, because I'm very interested in what he saw."

Oliver was not the only one in Hummels firing line, the Dortmund star also taking aim at the recipient of the tackle while emotions were running high following the full-time whistle.

Hummels claimed: "He (Antony) came to me himself and said it was not a red card. But the video referee, if he does it full-time, has to see that for himself.

"He is a super footballer. Now he still has to learn to be a sportsman, then maybe he'll be even better."

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While Ajax look set to progress to the knockout stages of the competition - barring any late capitulation with two games to go - Dortmund's future is less certain.

The Bundesliga side are only above Sporting due to a better head-to-head record, with a trip to Portugal next up for Marco Rose's side.

However, Sporting still have to pay a daunting visit to the Amsterdam Arena on the final match-day, ensuring Group C goes right down to the wire.