Former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi was one of three Lazio players sent off as they lost to AC Milan on Friday night.

ROME, ITALY: The referee Marco Di Bello show a red Card to Matteo Guendouzi of SS Lazio during the Serie A TIM match between SS Lazio and AC Milan Serie A TIM at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2024. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY: The referee Marco Di Bello show a red Card to Matteo Guendouzi of SS Lazio during the Serie A TIM match between SS Lazio and AC Milan Serie A TIM at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2024. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Lazio’s Serie A clash with AC Milan on Friday was certainly not without controversy, with 13 cards shown to the players on the pitch and another shown to Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri.

It all kicked off early in the second half, when Luca Pellegrini was shown two yellow cards in quick succession to be sent off in the 57th minute.

At the time, the score was 0-0, and Lazio’s 10 men held on until the final minutes of the game. But when Noah Okafor scored an 88th-minute winner for the away side, tempers flared.

FLORENCE, ITALY: Matteo Elias Kenzo Guendouzi Olie' of SS Lazio reacts during the Serie A TIM match between ACF Fiorentina and SS Lazio at Stadio Artemio Franchi on February 26, 2024. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
FLORENCE, ITALY: Matteo Elias Kenzo Guendouzi Olie’ of SS Lazio reacts during the Serie A TIM match between ACF Fiorentina and SS Lazio at Stadio Artemio Franchi on February 26, 2024. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Adam Marusic picked up a soft red card in the 95th minute for a barge in the back of an opponent, before Milan’s Rafael Leao received a yellow for a cynical foul to deny a counter-attack.

With seconds remaining, former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi attempted to counter, but he was pulled back by Christian Pulisic.

Guendouzi reacted furiously, grabbing at Pulisic and pushing him to the floor. The referee showed a yellow card to Pulisic for the initial foul, and a red to Guendouzi for his reaction to it.

BOLOGNA, ITALY - NOVEMBER 03: Mattéo Guendouzi of SS Lazio during the Serie A TIM match between Bologna FC and SS Lazio at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on November 03, 2023 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
BOLOGNA, ITALY: Mattéo Guendouzi of SS Lazio during the Serie A TIM match between Bologna FC and SS Lazio at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on November 03, 2023. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Guendouzi will certainly miss Lazio’s next domestic game against Udinese through suspension, and it remains to be seen whether the ban will be extended beyond a single game.

In the meantime, Guendouzi will be able to feature for Lazio in the Champions League, as they travel away to Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

As it stands, Sarri’s side have a 1-0 lead in the tie, with Guendouzi winning the Player of the Match award for the first leg.