Antalyaspor went on to lose 3-0.
Shoya Nakajima was sent off after just 20 seconds after making his debut for Turkish side Antalyaspor.
The Japan international signed a two-year deal with the club earlier this month after leaving FC Porto, but his tenure couldn’t have got off to a worse start after he saw red shortly after being subbed on.
Nakajima entered the fray in the 59th minute in place of Houssam Ghacha.
⏱️ 59' ➡️ Shoya Nakajima is subbed on for his home debut for Antalyaspor
⏱️ 61' 🟥 Shoya Nakajima is sent off on his home debut for Antalyaspor
😬 Quite the occasion…
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 18, 2022
The TV cameras cut to Nakajima’s family watching on proudly in the stands after travelling over 5,000 miles from Japan.
They filmed their relative as he ran onto the pitch.
But their joy turned to devastation moments later when Nakajima was penalised for a dangerous late tackle on right-back Jonas Svensson, who was left in a lot of pain.
Referee Ali Palabiyik showed the substitute a yellow card, much to the surprise of Adana Demirspor’s players and coaching staff. They felt it should have been a red card.
Palabiyik was then advised to review the incident on his pitch-side monitor.
He then returned, cancelled the yellow card, and upgraded Nakajima’s punishment to a straight red.
As Nakajima made his way towards the tunnel, his family members looked shell-shocked and heartbroken in the stands.
Reacting to the footage on social media, commentator Jacqui Oatley tweeted: “His poor mum!”
You really do have to feel for her!
Shoya Nakajima's family travelled all the way from Japan to watch him make his home debut as a substitute for Adana Demirspor.
He was sent off after two minutes, leaving his mother and siblings looking horrified in the stands pic.twitter.com/4esWxEpHsw
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) September 18, 2022
