Como President Mirwan Suwarso has expressed his support for Dele Alli following the English midfielder’s unfortunate Serie A debut, which resulted in a red card just minutes after entering the game against Milan.

The former Tottenham star’s introduction as a substitute took an unexpected turn when he was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The incident, which occurred only nine minutes after Alli joined the action, was reviewed by VAR before the referee made his decision.

Interestingly, Loftus-Cheek later admitted that he hadn’t considered Alli’s challenge severe enough to warrant a red card. This sentiment was echoed by Como’s management and coaching staff, including head coach Cesc Fabregas, who believe Alli had no intention of causing harm.

President Suwarso took to social media to voice his unwavering support for the player. In a heartfelt message, he wrote:

“The fire still burns. After nearly two years, Dele Alli stepped back onto the battlefield. It takes courage to keep going, to fight through doubt, to silence the noise, and to return, not just to play, but to compete at the highest level once again.

Some will talk about the red card. Let them. We saw something else. We saw hunger. We saw resilience. We saw flashes of brilliance. And those of us who watch him train every day know. This is only the beginning.

The road back is never easy, but warriors don’t quit. Keep going, Dele. Your best is yet to come. Semm Cumasch.”

The incident even prompted Kyle Walker, Alli’s former Tottenham teammate now playing for Milan, to attempt to persuade the referee against showing the red card during the VAR review.

Como currently occupies the 13th position in the Serie A table, maintaining a seven-point cushion above the relegation zone.