Ander Herrera, formerly of Man United, was sent off in wild scenes on Monday night at the Club World Cup – for grappling a security guard off the pitch. 

A fiery showdown between Boca Juniors and Benfica produced three red cards on Monday night, with Herrera dismissed from the bench for his altercation in the latest low point of a nightmare spell at the storied Argentinian club.

The 35-year-old former Man United and Paris Saint-Germain star tried to shove his way through security and approach the referee while he was in the middle of a VAR review just before half-time.

He had already been substituted in the 20th minute after picking up an injury, but was seething on the sidelines at the perceived injustice of a decision against the Argentinian side.   

It was another shocking moment in what has been a dreadful start to life at Boca for Herrera.  

Ander Herrera was given the first of three red cards in Boca Juniors’ clash with Benfica

Herrera had come off injured early in the game and his protests while on the sideline were so aggressive towards the referee checking his monitor that he was sent off

The former Manchester United midfielder has been plagued by injury issues at Argentina outfit Boca, pictured here trudging off back in May after a game against Independiente

He joined in January as a free agent but left the pitch in tears back in March, looking devastated as he cupped his hands to his mouth and covered his face with his shirt having come off injured.

Herrera has been riddled with injuries over the last few years since leaving Athletic Bilbao in 2023. 

He had three separate issues for Boca in three consecutive games, the last of which reduced him to tears. 

His team-mates consoled him and the Spanish press wrote: ‘Just five minutes after coming on, without waiting for any substitution, he left the field in tears and remained inconsolable on the bench, fearing the worst.’

Herrera made his debut for Boca in January but a hamstring injury forced him off after 65 minutes, his comeback proved to be a false start, feeling discomfort in the same area before a game had even begun and he then came on against Newell’s before his body let him down a third time – rendering him inconsolable.  

Perhaps his frustration at coming off yet again on Monday night was part of the reason for his touchline explosion. 

Benfica fought back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw in Miami, where Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi completed the fightback in the second half after Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia had given Argentinian side Boca an early lead.

Both teams were reduced to 10 men as tempers flared in a heated contest at Hard Rock Stadium, with Benfica’s Andrea Belotti and Boca’s Jorge Figal also seeing red.

Herrera walked off the pitch with yet another injury after playing just 20 minutes on Monday

Andrea Belotti was sent off for a high challenge that was initially given a yellow card

The Italian pleaded his innocence but his challenge was deemed reckless

Just before second-half stoppage time, Boca Junior’s Jorge Figal was also shown a red card

Almost 25 minutes after the break, Benfica were reduced to 10 men when Belotti, who connected with a high boot to the back of the head of a Boca player, was given his marching orders for the dangerous challenge.

Ramos originally gave Belotti a yellow card on the play but was called over to review it via VAR. 

After a few moments inside the booth, he switched from his original decision, deeming it worthy of a straight red.  

The final red card of the game came in the 88th minute to Boca’s Jorge Figal, who was late and reckless with a challenge near the touch line, right in front of a group of Benfica players warming up. 

One of the sideline officials immediately stepped between the group of Benfica players and Figal to defuse another incendiary moment when tempers threatened to boil over.

The goals from Di Maria and Otamendi brought Benfica level, after they trailed 2-0 as early as the 27th minute. 

Benfica and Boca Juniors are in Group C with Bayern Munich and Auckland City.  On Sunday, the German giants defeated the upstart New Zealand side 10-0.