Did De Bruyne really lose his cool over a one‑minute exit? The 35‑year‑old Belgian midfielder was forced off for sixty seconds during Belgium’s 0‑1 loss to France on Monday, and he let the referee know it with a profanity.
Perhaps the new rule caught him off guard, or maybe he simply found it absurd. In the Nations League clash, De Bruyne erupted after a Napoli‑born player collapsed from a Maxence Lacroix header at the 34th minute, only to be told by Slovenian official Rade Obrenović to step off for a minute as mandated since last summer’s World Cup.
Fuck off man
To curb delays, FIFA introduced a rule that any player receiving on‑field treatment must vacate the field for a minute before returning. In my view, the rule feels excessive. When the referee explained the procedure, De Bruyne brushed him aside, shouted “Fuck off man,” and then sulked along the touchline for the full minute before re‑entering.
De Bruyne later received a yellow card in the second half (57’) for a foul before being substituted for Hans Vanaken (63’).
“I told the lads I have no complaints,” manager Mark van Bommel said. “Seeing how quickly they adapt to our style shows they’re coping well. It means dropping back instantly when we lose the ball and pressing for a new chance. We’ll try that against every side. If we sit back, we’ll concede anyway. Our game plan must be clear, whether against San Marino or Spain. Details decide win or loss. That was true at the World Cup, but we’re on the right track. I’m partly satisfied, yet we still lost this match.”