Scotland vs Hungary referee sent off TEN players in same game as card-happy South American gets special dispensation

The referee appointed for Scotland's massive Euro 2024 showdown with Hungary once sent off TEN players in a cup final in his native Argentina.

Facundo Tello made history on Tuesday when he became the first non- UEFA official to take charge of a match at Euro 2024 for the match between Turkey and Georgia in Dortmund. Tello's involvement comes as part of a deal between UEFA and CONMEBOL to share referees between the two continental governing bodies. In that deal, Italian referee Maurizio Mariani goes in the opposite direction to officiate in the Copa America this summer.

But Steve Clarke's players will have to be on their best behaviour in Stuttgart as Tello is known for his strict disciplinary approach. In November 2022, he sent off a staggering 10 players in Argentina’s Champions Trophy final between Racing Club and Boca Juniors. He stepped in when a late winner from Carlos Alcaraz in the Champions Trophy final provoked a huge melee in the middle of the pitch.

Tello sent Alcaraz off as well as five Boca players and their manager Hugo Ibarra – he had already sent off three players before the mass brawl. That match had to be stopped with Racing 2-1 up because Boca Juniors only had six players left on the pitch - below the minimum limit of seven.

Scotland have already had a player sent off during this tournament with Ryan Porteous seeing red for a lunge on Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan with UEFA later slapping an extra game ban on the Watford stopper which means he is out of the Hungary clash.

Tello, 42, is no stranger to international football. He took charge of three matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including two games involving Portugal.

Born in Bahia Blanca, Tello has refereed at the highest levels of the game in Argentina. He refereed his first official match for the Argentine Soccer Association all the way back in 2011.

The first major match of his career was all the way back in 2018, when he was in charge of the dreaded Superclasico clash between River Plate and Boca Juniors. One year later, he was called up by FIFA as a member of its roster of international referees in 2019.