Rangers player red carded on international duty as horror tackle sparks VAR intervention

Rangers midfielder Vanja Dragojević was one of two Serbia players sent off in their 3-1 defeat by Germany on Friday night.

The 20-year-old received his marching orders following a VAR intervention after coming on as a substitute at half-time in the Nations League encounter in Belgrade.

Dragojević has found first-team opportunities hard to come by at Ibrox this season following his summer move from Partizan Belgrade. He has made just four starts across all competitions, and has been an unused substitute in 10 of the 12 matches played in the Scottish Premiership thus far.

Vanja Dragojevic of Serbia walks off the pitch after receiving a red card in the 3-1 defeat by Germany at Rajko Mitic Stadium. | Getty Images

Dragojević was also named on the bench for Serbia but was introduced at the break with his team losing 2-0 to win his third cap.

The scoreline was 3-1 to the visitors when the Rangers man caught Germany captain Joshua Kimmich on the ankle with a late tackle in the 76th minute. Replays showed Kimmich's ankle twist under the impact, though he avoided a serious injury.

Spanish referee Javier Alberola Rojas initially issued a yellow card for the foul but following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check and a pitchside monitor review, the punishment was upgraded to a straight red card.

Dragojević's dismissal halted Serbia's second-half momentum after they had pulled a goal back. Fellow substitute Andrija Živković was later sent off in the 89th minute for a second bookable offence, leaving the Serbians to finish the match with nine players.

Before his dismissal, Dragojević completed seven of his nine passes, made one clearance, and won one tackle. He is now suspended for Serbia's final Nations League group match away to Greece on Monday.

A straight red card carries an automatic minimum one-match international suspension, which could be extended by UEFA's disciplinary body for serious foul play